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A report on research into older adults’ use of AI says chatbots can help explain health information, but users should check responses rather than trust them automatically. Survey findings cited in the report show that some older adults already use AI for health questions, while accuracy and privacy risks remain.
A report published by Medical Xpress says AI chatbots may help older adults find and understand health information, but the researcher behind the report advises using them with informed skepticism—checking answers instead of treating them as medical guidance. The advice comes as surveys cited in the report indicate that some older adults already use chatbots and voice assistants to ask health questions.
The report’s author studies how people interact with technology, including how older adults use voice assistants and AI chatbots. The author describes potential benefits: chatbots can respond quickly, explain complicated topics in different ways, and summarize information. Users may also find it easier to raise sensitive questions with a chatbot than in a clinical setting. These features can be useful, the report says, but do not establish that a chatbot’s answer is accurate or appropriate for an individual’s situation.
A 2025 survey of 300 adults, cited in the report, found that about one in five respondents used AI chatbots to ask health questions. A separate poll conducted by the report’s author and colleagues found that half of older adults surveyed reported using AI chatbots or voice assistants, and about 14% of that group accessed health information with them. The report does not provide further details here about the samples or survey methods, so the figures should be read as findings from those polls rather than estimates of all adults or older adults.
The author also points to risks. Chatbots can give incorrect advice, misclassify health conditions, or produce overly agreeable responses that reflect what a user seems to want to hear. Because these systems generate text through pattern-based predictions, an answer can sound convincing while being wrong. The report says users should consult credible sources and health professionals rather than rely on a chatbot for urgent or personal medical decisions.
Health Answers Need Human Checks
For older adults managing chronic conditions or new diagnoses, a fast explanation may help make health information easier to approach. Chatbots can also offer a way to prepare questions before an appointment or to clarify unfamiliar terms. Those are supportive uses, not substitutes for diagnosis or care. The difference matters when a confident-sounding response could delay medical attention or lead someone to act on inaccurate advice.
The report’s concern is not simply whether older adults use AI, but whether they are given workable ways to evaluate it. The author’s research suggests some older users may prefer to begin and finish a search on the same device, making it less likely they will follow a chatbot’s answer into another source. That finding points to a need for guidance that fits how people actually search, rather than assuming users will independently verify every result.
Privacy is another practical concern. Public chatbot providers may retain prompts, including information entered during health questions. The report relays researchers’ general advice not to include personally identifiable information. Users should also be cautious about sharing details that could identify them or another person, even when a chatbot appears private.
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How Older Adults Use AI
The report challenges the stereotype that older adults are uniformly inexperienced with technology. It notes that older people use voice assistants such as Siri and Alexa, as well as chatbots, for varied purposes. Health questions are one possible use, alongside everyday tasks such as entertainment and trip planning. The author says that greater health needs associated with chronic conditions or age-related diagnoses can also mean more questions for which people want timely explanations.
Chatbots are accessible through standalone services and through features built into search engines. The report notes that these interfaces differ: some require users to opt in to AI features, while others display AI-generated summaries unless users take steps to avoid them. It describes adding “-ai” to a Google Search query as one way to remove AI content from results. Interface options can change, so users should check current settings and search features.
The report also cites the Aging with AI Act, introduced in the U.S. Senate in 2026, as an example of growing policy attention to the benefits and risks of AI for older people. The report presents the bill as a call for more research; it does not establish that the proposed legislation has become law.
““informed skepticism””
— The report’s author, a researcher who studies older adults’ interactions with technology
Limits of the Survey Findings
The report does not provide enough methodological detail in the supplied material to assess how representative the cited surveys are, how participants were recruited, or how questions were worded. The figures therefore describe the surveyed groups and should not be treated as population-wide rates. The report also does not identify which chatbot models or health topics were tested, or quantify how often their answers were wrong.
It remains unclear how well specific checking strategies work for older adults across different levels of technology experience, accessibility needs, and health conditions. The report discusses risks shared across AI services, but performance and privacy practices can vary between products. It also does not say whether the Aging with AI Act will advance or what its final provisions would be.
More Research and Safer Search Habits
The report calls for more research into how older adults use AI and how to reduce the risks. In the meantime, its guidance is to treat a chatbot as a starting point: look for cited sources or quality-checking features, compare important claims with reliable published information, and take medical concerns to a qualified health professional. Chatbots should not be relied on for emergencies.
Users can limit privacy risks by avoiding names, addresses, account details, and other identifying information in prompts, and by reviewing a service’s data settings. The report also recommends learning how to opt out of AI-generated search features where that option is available. Whether future research or the Senate bill produces formal guidance remains to be seen.
Key Questions
Can older adults use AI chatbots for health information?
They can use chatbots to get explanations or organize questions, but the report advises checking responses and not treating them as a diagnosis or a replacement for professional care.
How common is health chatbot use among older adults?
A poll by the report’s author and colleagues found that half of the older adults surveyed used AI chatbots or voice assistants, and about 14% of that group accessed health information. The report does not establish that these figures represent all older adults.
What are the main risks of asking a chatbot health questions?
The report identifies inaccurate advice, misclassification of health conditions, overly agreeable answers, and privacy concerns. A response may sound plausible without being correct.
How can users check an AI health answer?
Review any sources or quality features the chatbot provides, compare important claims with credible published information, and ask a health professional about personal medical decisions. Do not use a chatbot instead of emergency care.
Should users share personal medical details with a chatbot?
The report relays researchers’ advice to avoid entering personally identifiable information into public chatbots. Data retention practices vary, so users should check the service’s privacy settings and terms.
Source: medicalxpress.com
