Do you trust Dr. Google or AI?

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I do, probably too much. Less so Gemini. But ChatGPT tends to come in for me reliably. If I REALLY need a reliable source, more digging is probably needed.

 

[luvmyfam444]

yep and the disney docs but I do usually still go to the dr if suggested

 

[hardcorestitch]

Dr Google

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Just to clarify, if a medical diagnosis is needed, I go to the doctor. But if I need info on a potential medication, I'll still search for it, just to see general things like will it make you drowsy, half life, etc.

 

[Targetumaz]

Yeah, same here honestly. ChatGPT’s usually solid for quick info or brainstorming, but if it’s something I really need to be accurate on, I’ll still double-check a few sources.

 

[Miffy]

AI? No.

But there's a difference between AI searches and Google searches, because Google will show a list of sites you can choose from and, for example, the Mayo Clinic is a more reliable source of factual information than Quora is.

I use Google searches all the time for many different topics, but I am very careful about the sources. With AI, they don't even cite where they got the info from, and I find the AI answers on Google searches--now shown at the top of the Google page--to often be dead wrong.

 

[BrianL]

AI? No.

But there's a difference between AI searches and Google searches, because Google will show a list of sites you can choose from and, for example, the Mayo Clinic is a more reliable source of factual information than Quora is.

I use Google searches all the time for many different topics, but I am very careful about the sources. With AI, they don't even cite where they got the info from, and I find the AI answers on Google searches--now shown at the top of the Google page--to often be dead wrong.

Yup - not a chance I will take medical advice from AI. I might do some of my own research, mostly so I can arm myself with questions for a professional healthcare provider. I would look at sites like the Mayo Clinic and other well-known and reputable medical establishments.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Just to clarify, I don't trust either for medical information; that's what my doctor is for. I might look up simple facts, such as half lives of drugs, or their brand names (I always go by generic names - I don't say Zoloft, I say Sertraline, etc.)

But for help with my hypnotherapy sessions, information on projects, and so on, I am happy to go to ChatGPT or Deep Seek to rescue me.

 

[RedHead0186]

Depends on your definition of "Dr. Google." If using Google to look up something and it gives you a list of sources that you can then cull through to find primary, reputable sources, then yes. If you're talking about Google AI (or anything AI/LLM), then no. I have found those to be wrong more times than they are right (for lots of different pieces of information). I might use AI as a starting point and then move to find my own reputable sources, but I will not outright trust what comes out of AI for anything.

 

[RedHead0186]

I use Google searches all the time for many different topics, but I am very careful about the sources. With AI, they don't even cite where they got the info from, and I find the AI answers on Google searches--now shown at the top of the Google page--to often be dead wrong.

At least some AI models do cite their sources. For example Google AI will have the little 'link' icon to show where it pulled the info from. We use Copilot at work and it does the same thing. I can't speak for other AI models, though.

I do agree that oftentimes AI answers are outright incorrect (I love when they contradict themselves, lol).

 

[LuvOrlando]

Both are a useful tool, I use them for hints of where to dig in deeper at more reliable sources. For example, "For lab test ABC what are reasons it can be low?" Then if the prompt gives a few specific possible solutions, it is easy to pick up on those key words and uncover interesting info.

 

[Fytteamar]

Yeah, same here! I use ChatGPT a lot too, especially for quick info or brainstorming. But yeah, if it's something super important, I definitely double-check elsewhere. Can't rely on just one source!

 

[_19disnA]

AI? No.

But there's a difference between AI searches and Google searches, because Google will show a list of sites you can choose from and, for example, the Mayo Clinic is a more reliable source of factual information than Quora is.

I use Google searches all the time for many different topics, but I am very careful about the sources. With AI, they don't even cite where they got the info from, and I find the AI answers on Google searches--now shown at the top of the Google page--to often be dead wrong.

I agree. AI has become the latest tech buzzword. Simply grabbing information from across the web with no attempt to determine if it is accurate or nonsense isn't anything I would rely on. I am far more likely to trust information from reputable/known sources (like Mayo Clinic) then some person's random blog where they spout nonsense opinions that have no basis in fact.

Using reputable websites can save a lot of time when trying to look into something regardless of the topic.

 

[GAN]

I agree. AI has become the latest tech buzzword. Simply grabbing information from across the web with no attempt to determine if it is accurate or nonsense isn't anything I would rely on. I am far more likely to trust information from reputable/known sources (like Mayo Clinic) then some person's random blog where they spout nonsense opinions that have no basis in fact.

Using reputable websites can save a lot of time when trying to look into something regardless of the topic.

I can see where people think AI is a buzzword, but in reality it’s not. No more than saying you’d never take advice from a computer 50-years ago ….yet here we are searching. Soon, not only will the Mayo Clinic be using AI, they’ll be applying it to almost everything you might do in a hospital -they’re already using it for certain applications. There will always be doctors, but because of AI the diagnoses will be much better -no doctor has the memory recall of an AI computer. They’ll be able to analyze specific forms of cancer and compare it to potentially hundreds of thousands of previous cases and narrow down the best course of action. AI will influence almost everything we do….

 

[tvguy]

To be honest, my biggest concern with medical advice isn't AI, it is real world Doctors who can't agree. I see several specialists and I am tired of one specialist asking what another specialist thinks about a condition, and I ask that other specialist that question and they always respond....."that isn't in my specialty, that is in HIS specialty".

 

[Dug720]

Nope. I will go to the doctor or call the triage nurse at the practice I go to if I have a question. In person (even if over the phone) is always better and doesn't lead you down rabbit holes that often cause undue stress.

 

[_19disnA]

Everything running a computer program did not suddenly become an example of AI. The real definition of AI (i.e. artificial intelligence) is the ability to duplicate the human thought process. To do that involves enormously complicated programs and most are simply running a preprogrammed set of instructions. The fact some program happens to crunch a lot of data does NOT make it an example of AI.