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A report on research into older adults’ technology use says AI chatbots can make health information easier to access and understand, but their answers may be inaccurate and users often do not verify them. The researcher recommends “informed skepticism”: check sources and chatbot features, protect personal information, and do not treat chatbot responses as a substitute for professional care.
A researcher studying older adults’ use of technology says AI chatbots can help people access and understand health information, but users should approach the answers with “informed skepticism” rather than accepting them at face value. The report, published by Medical Xpress, highlights both the appeal of quick explanations and the risks of inaccurate advice, unverified answers and exposure of personal information.
The researcher reports that a 2025 survey of 300 adults found about one in five respondents used AI chatbots to ask health questions, including about symptoms, diet and fitness. In a separate poll conducted with colleagues that year, one in two older adults said they used AI chatbots or voice assistants, while about 14% of that group said they used them to access health information. These figures describe the surveys cited in the report; they do not establish how common use is across all older adults.
Chatbots may appeal because they respond quickly, can explain complex topics in simpler language and let users ask sensitive questions at home. The researcher says older people may have particular reasons to seek health information, including chronic conditions or new diagnoses. A chatbot can make information feel easier to reach while someone waits for an appointment, but a fast answer is not necessarily a reliable one.
The report warns that chatbots can give incorrect medical information, misclassify conditions or respond in an overly agreeable way, a tendency researchers call “sycophancy.” Their fluent answers can sound credible even when wrong. In the 2025 survey of chatbot users, four in five said they never verified the health chatbot’s output. The report also raises privacy concerns: public chatbot providers may retain prompts to help train future systems, so users are generally advised not to enter personally identifying details.
How Older Adults Can Check AI Health Answers
The issue matters because quick, plain-language explanations could help people make sense of health information, while an unchecked error could mislead someone about symptoms or care. The report does not establish that chatbot use improves health outcomes. It instead points to a practical tension: convenience can make AI useful, but the same ease of use may encourage people to rely on answers they have not checked.
The researcher’s recommendation is to stay open to AI while checking its output. Users can look for cited sources or other information-quality features, compare important claims with reliable published sources, and consult a qualified health professional about medical decisions. The report also suggests learning how to opt out of AI features in search tools, particularly when seeking sensitive information, and keeping identifying details out of prompts.
These steps are especially relevant because, according to the researcher’s work, older adults may prefer to start and finish a search using the same device. If verification requires switching to a different tool or format, they may be less likely to do it. The report argues that guidance should account for these differences rather than assume every age group uses AI in the same way.
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What the Surveys Say About Use
The report challenges the stereotype that older adults are uniformly reluctant or inexperienced technology users. The researcher says adults aged 60 and older are using AI for activities such as entertainment and trip planning, as well as for information. The cited poll found use of chatbots or voice assistants among half of its older-adult respondents, although the report does not provide enough detail here to treat that result as representative of all older adults.
The research also points to different search habits. Older adults in the researcher’s work preferred to begin and complete voice-assistant searches on the same device. Younger adults more often viewed AI as one step, using it to find information before turning to another tool, such as a search engine. The researcher says this contrast makes it useful to offer older users clear ways to verify responses without requiring a complicated change in format.
The policy debate is also developing. The report cites the Aging with AI Act, introduced in the U.S. Senate in 2026, as an example of growing attention to research on AI’s benefits and risks for older people. The source does not specify the bill’s current legislative status or describe its provisions in detail.
““informed skepticism””
— The researcher whose work is described in the Medical Xpress report
Limits of the Available Evidence
The figures cited come from specific surveys, including one with 300 adults; the report does not provide enough methodological detail here to determine how representative those respondents are. The findings should not be read as a precise measure of chatbot use among all older adults or as evidence that AI use changes health outcomes.
It is also unclear from the report how often older adults encounter harmful chatbot advice, which services retain prompts under what conditions, or whether particular verification strategies reduce errors in practice. The source describes potential risks and user habits, but does not compare the accuracy of individual chatbot products or provide results from a trial of its suggested safeguards.
Research and Safer Use Ahead
The researcher says more work is needed to understand how older adults use AI and how to help them assess its answers. The report points to the Aging with AI Act as a sign of policy interest, but does not say what action Congress will take next. For users, the near-term guidance is to check chatbot sources, use available controls for AI-generated search results, avoid sharing identifying information and bring health concerns to a qualified professional rather than relying on a chatbot alone.
Key Questions
Can older adults use AI chatbots for health information?
They can use them to explore questions or get explanations, but the report recommends treating responses as information to check—not as a diagnosis or a replacement for professional care.
How many older adults in the cited poll used AI?
In a 2025 poll conducted by the researcher and colleagues, one in two older adults reported using AI chatbots or voice assistants, and about 14% said they accessed health information that way. The report does not establish that the poll represents all older adults.
Why can chatbot health answers be risky?
Chatbots may produce incorrect advice, misclassify conditions or give overly agreeable responses. Their fluent wording can make errors hard to recognize, according to the report.
How can users reduce privacy risks?
The report says researchers generally recommend not entering personally identifiable information into chatbot prompts. It also suggests learning how to opt out of AI features when searching for sensitive information.
Should a chatbot answer guide a medical decision?
The report does not recommend relying on chatbot output alone. Users should verify important claims with reliable sources and consult a qualified health professional about medical decisions.
Source: medicalxpress.com
