A cross-national survey of 31,000 adults in 30 countries finds that digital health literacy is highest in low- and middle-income countries and lowest in high-income countries

The inverse correlation with income is unsurprising because in many countries public healthcare has a cost in money or time at the point of use. The statistics likely indicate an avoidance of this cost rather than any intellectual preference for AI diagnosis.

Acceptance of AI-generated health information varied widely. Globally, 58.3% of respondents said they would be likely to accept it, but the range was substantial: above 75% in China, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia, and below 50% in Canada, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, France, the UK, Australia, Belgium, Russia, Sweden, and Japan. Younger adults and those with post-secondary education were more receptive than older respondents.

That’s concerning. Between this, doctors turning the chatbots for advice, and students using chatbots to get their degrees, it sure sounds like technology in the healthcare industry is just leading us down a dark path.