Can AI Replace Your Doctor?
Artificial intelligence in medicine
Medicine is not just an important but a necessary sphere that supports people's health. However, the profession of specialists in this sphere - doctors, nurses - is not easy. A large number of patients come to clinics and hospitals every day to receive medical care. However, AI can make the difficult task of doctors easier and help people in self-treatment.
How does artificial intelligence help in medicine?
In fact, it can not only find and describe the symptoms of various diseases, but also give advice on treatment, give clear instructions on how and what to do, depending on your individual characteristics.
How does artificial intelligence help in medicine?
In fact, it can not only find and describe the symptoms of various diseases, but also give advice on treatment, give clear instructions on how and what to do, depending on your individual characteristics.
what is it?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the term used to describe the use of computers and technology to simulate intelligent behavior and critical thinking comparable to a human being. John McCarthy first described the term Al in 1956 as the science and engineering of making intelligent machines.
However, let's go back in time for a moment and find out how the history of AI in medicine began.
Alan Turing
was one of the founders of modern computers and Al, who determined that the intelligent behavior of a computer is capable of achieving human level performance in cognition related tasks. The 1980s and 1990s saw a surge in interest in Al. Artificial intelligent techniques such as fuzzy expert systems, Bayesian networks, artificial neural networks, and hybrid intelligent systems were used in different clinical settings in health care. In 2016, the biggest chunk of investments in Al research were in healthcare applications compared with other sectors.
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Of course, the level of AI in the medical field is not yet high enough and is only developing more every year. However, there are already huge advantages due to which AI can facilitate the work of doctors, and sometimes even replace them, as it is believed. AI is used for online appointment booking, online registration in medical centers, digitalization of medical records, reminders of follow-up appointments and vaccination dates for children and pregnant women, to drug dosage algorithms and warnings about side effects when prescribing combinations of several drugs.
We can’t help but mention Fitbit, Apple and other health trackers that have built-in “intelligence” and can track heart rate, activity level, sleep level, and some have even launched ECG curves as a new feature. All these new advances can alert the user to any changes and allow the doctor to better understand the patient’s condition. The Netherlands, for example, uses AI to analyze its health care system - identifying errors in treatment, inefficiencies in the workflow, in order to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations.
We can’t help but mention Fitbit, Apple and other health trackers that have built-in “intelligence” and can track heart rate, activity level, sleep level, and some have even launched ECG curves as a new feature. All these new advances can alert the user to any changes and allow the doctor to better understand the patient’s condition. The Netherlands, for example, uses AI to analyze its health care system - identifying errors in treatment, inefficiencies in the workflow, in order to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations.
Undoubtedly, AI has both advantages and disadvantages. AI can help doctors, but not replace them, since an accurate diagnosis of a disease requires a full appointment and direct interaction, and not through Internet algorithms. In addition, AI can sometimes fail. All this causes mixed feelings and an ambiguous attitude of people towards neural networks. However, which opinion prevails: positive or negative? We found out by receiving the results of a survey in a Google form from 30 people.
This shows how often young people rely on technology before seeking professional help.
After the survey, we decided to contact several people to find out about their stories related to AI.
“Several times in my life I have encountered various allergic reactions, but I have not always sought help from a doctor. Most often, I can determine my condition and choose a course of treatment myself. But recently I was not entirely sure of my assumptions and AI helped me confirm them. Based on a photo of a rash and symptoms, the neural network was able to confirm an infection. Much more often, I ask artificial intelligence to analyze a large instruction manual for a drug and make a short summary of the most important things to know when using it.
Of course, this does not mean that Artificial Intelligence will replace doctors, but it can become a very useful tool. I have heard more than once and know the experience of my friends: neural networks successfully analyze X-rays, help in telemedicine, and can determine the correct diagnosis based on symptoms.
Personally, I have not encountered any bad consequences, but I understand that in case of serious diseases, you need to contact a specialist, and not a neural algorithm. Self-medication will never be more effective than medicine.”
- Bogdan, 16 y.o., Belarus
Of course, this does not mean that Artificial Intelligence will replace doctors, but it can become a very useful tool. I have heard more than once and know the experience of my friends: neural networks successfully analyze X-rays, help in telemedicine, and can determine the correct diagnosis based on symptoms.
Personally, I have not encountered any bad consequences, but I understand that in case of serious diseases, you need to contact a specialist, and not a neural algorithm. Self-medication will never be more effective than medicine.”
- Bogdan, 16 y.o., Belarus
“I also had an experience working with ChatGPT. When I was sick, I had an allergy. I was sneezing a lot, I felt dizzy, and I had a really bad stomachache. I told everything to ChatGPT, and it gave me two or three possible diagnoses. Then, when I explained my symptoms in more detail, it gave me a more exact answer.
After that, I decided to visit a professional doctor. The doctor confirmed the diagnosis that ChatGPT had given me. Thanks to ChatGPT, I could save time and understand my illness through the symptoms. This helped me decide to see a doctor quickly.
After the consultation with ChatGPT, I understood the importance and urgency of my condition.”
- Botakoz, 18 y.o., Kazakhstan
After that, I decided to visit a professional doctor. The doctor confirmed the diagnosis that ChatGPT had given me. Thanks to ChatGPT, I could save time and understand my illness through the symptoms. This helped me decide to see a doctor quickly.
After the consultation with ChatGPT, I understood the importance and urgency of my condition.”
- Botakoz, 18 y.o., Kazakhstan
“I also had an experience using AI to deal with a health issue. Because my homework involves filming and editing, I often have to stay up really late. Over time, even when I didn’t have any urgent deadlines, I started having trouble sleeping — full-on insomnia. At first, I tried melatonin, and it helped for a bit, but then it stopped working.
I didn’t really want to go to a doctor just for insomnia, so I decided to ask AI for help — it’s faster and more convenient. ChatGPT suggested trying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), and it broke it down into simple steps.
For example, it recommended keeping a sleep log for a week and only staying in bed for the amount of time I actually sleep, plus 15 minutes. It also told me not to nap during the day and to get out of bed if I can’t fall asleep within 20 minutes — just do something boring like folding clothes in dim light. I also learned not to eat or use my phone in bed.
It also suggested ways to fix my sleep schedule, like getting some natural sunlight every morning and doing warm foot baths before bed to help my body wind down.
I actually tried combining all of these tips, and while my insomnia didn’t disappear completely, it did get better. Now I only have trouble sleeping once in a while, not every night like before.
Personally, I think AI is great for simple issues like sleep or diet. But if it’s something more serious — like a strong headache, stomach pain, or anything that lasts a long time — I would still go to the doctor.”
- Pan Linlan, 22 y.o., China
I didn’t really want to go to a doctor just for insomnia, so I decided to ask AI for help — it’s faster and more convenient. ChatGPT suggested trying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), and it broke it down into simple steps.
For example, it recommended keeping a sleep log for a week and only staying in bed for the amount of time I actually sleep, plus 15 minutes. It also told me not to nap during the day and to get out of bed if I can’t fall asleep within 20 minutes — just do something boring like folding clothes in dim light. I also learned not to eat or use my phone in bed.
It also suggested ways to fix my sleep schedule, like getting some natural sunlight every morning and doing warm foot baths before bed to help my body wind down.
I actually tried combining all of these tips, and while my insomnia didn’t disappear completely, it did get better. Now I only have trouble sleeping once in a while, not every night like before.
Personally, I think AI is great for simple issues like sleep or diet. But if it’s something more serious — like a strong headache, stomach pain, or anything that lasts a long time — I would still go to the doctor.”
- Pan Linlan, 22 y.o., China
“I had an experience where I turned to the Internet for help with a health issue. My sleep schedule is pretty irregular — sometimes I stay up late because of homework, and other times just because I don’t feel like sleeping. Over time, that really started to affect my immune system. On top of that, I used to eat a lot of hard foods and snacks that require a lot of chewing, and eventually, I started feeling pain in my jaw joints.
At first, I didn’t think it was serious enough to go to the doctor. I just wanted to understand what was happening and see if there was anything I could do about it. Searching online — especially using AI tools — was fast and convenient. I found some general advice, mostly about avoiding pressure on the jaw and trying home remedies like compresses and massage.
I tried a few things, like using a hot compress and avoiding hard food, and although there was a bit of short-term relief, the overall issue didn’t go away.
From this experience, I realized that while AI and online tools are super helpful for getting a quick overview or understanding mild symptoms, they do have limits. Sometimes the info can be a bit too general or even make you overthink. So now, if something feels like it’s getting worse or doesn’t improve with time, I definitely think it’s better to see a professional.”
- Qi Miaowei, 21 y.o., China
At first, I didn’t think it was serious enough to go to the doctor. I just wanted to understand what was happening and see if there was anything I could do about it. Searching online — especially using AI tools — was fast and convenient. I found some general advice, mostly about avoiding pressure on the jaw and trying home remedies like compresses and massage.
I tried a few things, like using a hot compress and avoiding hard food, and although there was a bit of short-term relief, the overall issue didn’t go away.
From this experience, I realized that while AI and online tools are super helpful for getting a quick overview or understanding mild symptoms, they do have limits. Sometimes the info can be a bit too general or even make you overthink. So now, if something feels like it’s getting worse or doesn’t improve with time, I definitely think it’s better to see a professional.”
- Qi Miaowei, 21 y.o., China
The guys shared their unique stories with us, which make us think about the role of AI in human life and health. However, we could not ignore medical professionals, so we also asked health workers about their opinions about AI. And here is what we learned:
— Asem Sadykbekova, 33 years old
Therapist, currently studying dermatology.
Graduated from Astana Medical University (AMU), Kazakhstan.
Therapist, currently studying dermatology.
Graduated from Astana Medical University (AMU), Kazakhstan.
"I’m a therapist and currently studying dermatology. In my opinion, AI can be helpful sometimes, but we shouldn’t trust it completely — especially when it comes to health. The problem is that AI usually gives general advice and doesn’t take into account the specific details of each person’s condition. Health is complex, and every case is different. That’s why it’s so important to see a doctor when needed. AI is just a machine — it doesn’t truly know, feel, or understand people the way a human can. Only a real doctor can help another human in a professional and meaningful way."
— Natalia Lapina
Nurse at the Bobruisk City Children's Hospital.
Graduated from the medical institute in Bobruisk
Nurse at the Bobruisk City Children's Hospital.
Graduated from the medical institute in Bobruisk
“Since I work in a children's hospital, where we, medical workers and doctors, treat children and adolescents, we almost never encounter cases of self-medication. However, I can say that even we have had children with drug poisoning. This can happen as a result of drug intolerance or overdose. Therefore, in any case, even with a common cold, you should go to the doctor, and not rely only on your own strength and artificial intelligence. Only a professional can determine the exact diagnosis during a comprehensive examination and examination and, in accordance with this, prescribe certain medications. Self-treatment, in which you can miss an important disease, can lead to various consequences, and sometimes they are tragic. Therefore, do not be lazy and go to see a doctor at the clinic! Speaking about anxiety and depression, everything starts with stress, worries. A person can start to be afraid of what he was not afraid of before. The consequence of this is tachycardia, heart pain, thoughts about bad things, severe headaches, insomnia, high blood pressure can also be. If we talk about the symptoms of viral diseases, the Internet mainly gives template symptoms. However, each person's body is individual, which means that the same disease can manifest itself differently in different people. With a viral infection, there is usually general weakness, severe headache, sore throat, runny nose, and shortness of breath may appear. Also, one person may have a high temperature, while another one may have a normal temperature. Also, someone may experience nausea and vomiting, while someone else may not. Each person has their own body, to which the doctor adapts, but not always. Therefore, you cannot make an accurate diagnosis without consultation, tests and additional examinations. Therefore, you should not self-medicate, it is better to resort to professional help.”
In conclusion, it should be said that AI will not replace doctors. It will help them simplify complex tasks, become an advisor. And, of course, we must teach future doctors to work together with AI, using it to their advantage - without losing what makes medicine human: Empathy, care, connection. Only a person, a professional, has emotionality, wisdom, prudence. Doctors find an approach to each patient, interacting with them physically, and not remotely. And even if AI is more knowledgeable in some matters, a doctor is capable of more, more professionally, more humanly.
