Dive Brief: About one-third of adults across the country have used artificial intelligence to find health information, as AI firms increasingly tout tools geared towards health queries, according to a poll published Wednesday by health policy researcher KFF.  [Healthcare Dive]

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• Respondents said their top reasons for using AI include the desire for quick health advice and researching information before seeing a provider, according to the survey. But about 1 in 5 said not having a provider or not being able to get an appointment were major drivers of their AI use. 

More than 40% of users report uploading personal health information like test results or doctor’s notes into an AI tool, even as many adults are worried about data privacy, according to KFF.

• More than 40% of health AI users say they’ve uploaded personal medical information like test results or doctor’s notes into an AI tool, even though many express concerns about the privacy of their health data. 

Dive Insight: 

The poll comes as a number of technology firms have rolled out AI chatbots dedicated to health questions, including OpenAI, Microsoft and Amazon. 

The health-specific tools, which typically allow users to connect their medical records for personalized information, can help users manage their care and navigate the complex U.S. healthcare system, the companies say.

Plus, the tech firms argue many people are already turning to AI for health questions — a claim backed up by KFF’s latest poll of more than 1,300 U.S. adults. 

Nearly 30% of respondents said they’ve used AI for information and advice on their physical health in the past year, while 1 in 6 said they’ve accessed the tools for mental health information. 

Adults are about as likely to use AI for health questions as they are to turn to social media: 29% said they’d used social media for information on physical or mental health in the past year. 

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