Two in the morning. A red patch on your arm, or a headache that will not shift. The doctor's surgery is closed, and you do not want to wake anyone.
So you open your assistant, and you describe what you are feeling.
You are not alone. Millions of people ask an AI health questions every day. It is not necessarily a bad idea. But you need to know what it can do for you, and what it must never replace.
What an AI does well
Translating the jargon. A test report, a blood test, a term on a prescription: an AI can explain in plain words what a result or a complicated name means.
Preparing for an appointment. It can help you describe your symptoms clearly, note how long they have lasted, and prepare the questions to ask the doctor. You will come out of the appointment with more answers.
Understanding a prescribed treatment. How to take a medicine, when, what to avoid taking it with: an AI can explain this, provided you then check with a professional.
What it must not do
Make a diagnosis. An AI does not examine you. It does not listen to you breathe, does not feel anything, does not see what a doctor spots at a glance. It relies solely on what you write, and a symptom described inaccurately can lead to a completely wrong answer.
Decide on a treatment. Even in Utah, where an AI can now prescribe for acne, it only chooses from a handful of creams approved by doctors, and under supervision. Never take a medicine on the sole basis of an assistant's answer.
Handle an emergency. Chest pain, difficulty breathing, feeling unwell, a high fever in a baby: this is not the moment to chat with an AI. Call 999 or 112. And in cases of psychological distress or suicidal thoughts, the 3114 answers day and night, free of charge.
For a health problem that is not a life-threatening emergency but cannot wait for the surgery to open, France has a dedicated number: 116 117. Available in many regions, it lets you reach a healthcare professional at night, at weekends and on public holidays, who will advise you and can direct you to an on-call doctor. It is free, and a real human answers.
The right reflexes
Ask where the information comes from. And check it. An AI can cite a study that does not exist, or make it say something else. Our guide to verifying a source given by an AI applies doubly to health.
Go through the pharmacist. They are available without an appointment, know the medicines, and can tell you whether your situation calls for seeing a doctor.
Protect your data. Your health information is among the most sensitive there is. To discuss it, opt for a temporary conversation, which is not stored, and take a look at what your assistant remembers about you.
Beware of social media "doctors". Characters entirely created by AI present themselves as health professionals to sell supplements or miracle products. A real doctor does not sell you anything under a video.
What to take away
AI can be a very good translator of medicine: it helps you understand, prepare, and ask the right questions.
But it cannot examine you, and it is sometimes wrong with a great deal of confidence. For your health, it should remain a starting point. Never the last word.