AI becomes a lifeline for chronic back pain sufferer

A person suffering from severe back pain turned to AI for relief after traditional treatments failed. The individual, who experienced debilitating nighttime pain and ineffective medication, relied on Google’s Gemini chatbot to provide support. Gemini offered daily check-ins, advice on managing pain, and explanations of medical terms. The user reported significant improvement in sleep and overall condition. According to a recent KFF study, about a third of adults use AI for health advice, with 42% of those under 30 relying on it. This marks a significant shift from earlier AI models, which sometimes provided inaccurate or harmful advice, such as suggesting people eat glue. Gaurav Mathur, a physician and AI health app developer, supports the use of AI, noting it is an evolution of patients seeking health information online. He argues that informed patients can achieve better health outcomes.