The rise of the internet created ready access to a second source of expert health knowledge – government health authorities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and National Institutes of Health (NIH). Although confidence in these sources eroded during the Covid-19 pandemic, relative to most other institutions confidence in these institutions has remained high, ranging from 66%-68% in April for the three health agencies.

The advent of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has added a third source of health knowledge and recommendations. Whether this source is trusted – and, if so, to what extent – is an open question, but its presence is all but unavoidable. A Google search for the answer to a health question, for example, will elicit a response led by an AI Overview of the search results containing a disclaimer in small print at the end: This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional. AI responses may include mistakes.

Although Google notes that its AI summaries may not be accurate, vast numbers of Americans are exposed to these answers and most consider them reliable, according to the latest APPC health survey. Conducted in April 2025 with over 1,600 U.S. adults, the survey finds that nearly 8 in 10 adults say they’re likely to go online to answer a specific question about health symptoms or a health condition. Nearly two-thirds of this group say they have seen AI-generated responses.

Source: https://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/many-in-u-s-consider-ai-generated-health-information-useful-and-reliable/