Patients are not waiting for permission: the rise of the AI-empowered patient

We have heard physicians express the sentiment that patients will not trust artificial intelligence (AI) until physicians trust AI. The reality suggests the opposite. Patients are already engaging with AI for their health—without permission, endorsement, or guidance from clinicians. Yet, patient-directed AI might foster greater autonomy, agency, and reflective engagement with health decisions. Patients globally are already using generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, to interpret symptoms, learn about diagnoses, and guide their health decisions.