MANILA, Philippines — January 21, 2026 — More Filipinos are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots and search engines before consulting doctors, raising concerns among medical experts about the risks of over-reliance on technology for health advice.

In an ABS-CBN interview with students like Rose, the first instinct when feeling unwell is to reach for her cellphone. By typing her symptoms into an AI chatbot or search engine, she quickly gets possible explanations for what she is experiencing. 

“Okay lang po na gumamit ng AI kung ang talagang gusto mo talagang malaman. Pero pag once po kasi na nagtanong ka sa AI, mas maganda pa rin po na magtanong ka sa doktor,” she explained.

Others, like Liberty, admit they are afraid of doctors and prefer to consult their phones with family members' help. “Interim muna. Titignan ko lang muna doon. Pagkailan kong kaya namang lunasan, yun ang ginagawa ko. Tapos, pag hindi ko na talaga kaya, lalo lumala. Saan ka na ako magpapatingin?” she said.

This practice has become common among many Filipinos. For example, if someone experiences chest pain for two days, AI can provide a list of possible causes such as heart disease, lung problems, muscle strain, anxiety, or even panic attacks. 

But cardiologists warn that such information is incomplete and potentially misleading. Unlike doctors, AI cannot assess medical history, lifestyle, or conduct physical examinations.

“There’s nothing wrong with asking AI or search engines. Hindi bawal mag-Google because it’s there, it’s free, walang restrictions. Pero meron kasing filtering na dapat nangyayari. At si doktor yung talaga mag-filter,” one cardiologist explained, stressing that doctors are essential to interpret symptoms and calm patient fears.

AI is already being used in medical processes such as electrocardiograms (ECG), 2D echocardiograms, and CT scans. However, experts caution that the data generated by these tools should not be accepted as absolute truth without human oversight. 

“The world is assisting us, not replacing. AI will give us information. But who is to interpret the information? Doktor pa rin at this moment in time,” the cardiologist added.

A U.S. study further revealed that many people tend to “over-trust” AI despite its low accuracy in medical advice. Researchers warned that inappropriate reliance on AI could lead to misdiagnosis and worsen health conditions.

Doctors in the Philippines advise that while AI can spark curiosity and encourage people to learn more about their health, it should ultimately drive patients to seek professional medical consultation. “AI should increase public interest in seeing doctors, not replace them,” experts emphasized.

Helpful First Check or Dangerous Shortcut

AI feels like a lifeline. It is fast, free, and always available. For many Filipinos, typing symptoms into a phone lowers fear, saves money, and offers a starting point before seeing a doctor. As reported by ABS-CBN, curiosity often comes first.

But shortcuts carry risk. AI cannot examine a patient, read history, or judge urgency. When reassurance replaces consultation, care gets delayed and conditions worsen. Doctors warn that information needs filtering, not guessing. Technology can assist, not decide.

Used wisely, AI can point people to care. Used alone, it can quietly keep them away. When illness strikes, are we using AI to seek help, or to avoid it?