When patients use AI, GPs can be part of the answer
15 Jan 2026
Millions of people now ask health-related questions through platforms like ChatGPT each week, and new products are allowing patients to upload medical records, test results and fitness data to receive AI-generated explanations.
This isn’t a future concept. It’s already showing up in GP clinics across the country.
Among doctors, reactions are mixed. Some see the potential for better-informed patients and more meaningful consultations. Others worry about misinformation, legal responsibility, and what happens when patients arrive with answers before questions are asked.
These concerns are understandable. Many GPs are already stretched, working within a system under pressure, and constant change can feel overwhelming. But focusing only on what could go wrong may mean missing what could go right.
The reality in general practice
The RACGP’s Health of the Nation 2025 report highlights the growing strain on Australian general practice. More than two-thirds of GPs say increasing complexity in patient presentations is the biggest challenge they face. Mental health remains a leading reason for consultations, continuing a steady rise since 2017.
At the same time, changes to My Health Record mean pathology and imaging results are often available to patients before their GP has reviewed them. For patients waiting days or weeks for an appointment, it’s no surprise they look elsewhere for explanations.
When someone sees an abnormal result online, they rarely want to sit with uncertainty. Many will turn to AI tools to try to make sense of what they’re seeing.
When AI supports better care
One recent consultation stood out. A patient had accessed her knee MRI report through My Health Record and used AI to help understand it before her appointment. She arrived with clear questions about her diagnosis, treatment options and how her injury might affect her ability to return to sport.
Instead of spending time explaining basic terminology, the consultation focused on clinical reasoning, shared decision-making and her personal goals. It was collaborative, efficient and genuinely satisfying.
Understanding the limits
Neither AI nor clinicians are infallible. Algorithms can miss nuance, lack context and oversimplify complex problems. But doctors also make mistakes, influenced by fatigue, time pressure and cognitive bias.
When patients began bringing Google searches into appointments years ago, general practice adapted. AI is simply the next step, offering more advanced tools for people trying to understand their health.
The deeper shift isn’t about technology. It’s about how the clinician–patient relationship is evolving.
Why some doctors feel uneasy
Much of the resistance to AI-informed patients reflects exhaustion rather than opposition to innovation. Funding constraints, workforce shortages and rising expectations already place heavy demands on GPs.
When something new enters the mix, it can feel like another burden. Yet consultations where patients are informed and engaged are often the most productive and rewarding.
Where caution is essential
There are real risks. AI cannot detect physical signs, interpret tone or hesitation, or understand the social and cultural factors that shape health decisions. It cannot replace clinical judgement or human connection.
Concerns around data privacy, ownership of uploaded information and the potential for misinterpretation are valid. There is also the risk of increased anxiety or delayed care if patients rely too heavily on automated advice.
These issues require careful oversight and clear safeguards.
A chance to lead
Rather than standing back, GPs can play a key role in shaping how patients use AI. This includes helping them ask better questions, understand limitations and recognise when professional care is essential.
If used well, AI-driven health literacy can allow consultations to focus on the complex reasoning that truly requires medical training.
The technology is already here, and patients are already using it. The choice is whether to help guide its integration into care or resist a shift that is already underway.
The future of healthcare is arriving quickly. Being part of shaping it may be far more powerful than watching it unfold from the sidelines.
https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional
Source: Opinion adapted from commentary by Dr Janice Tan, Sydney GP, General Manager of Clinical Innovation at Bupa, and contributor to RACGP digital health committees.