Explain It to Me Paging Dr. ChatBot
Oct 26, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Dr. Dhruv Kular, a physician at Weill Cornell Medicine, and Dr. Eric Topol, a physician-scientist at Scripps Research, explore the transformative role of AI in healthcare. They dive into the risks and benefits of AI in diagnostics and patient self-assessment, emphasizing the importance of responsible usage. Kular highlights how chatbots can mislead patients and increase anxiety, while Topol advocates for AI's potential to enhance doctor-patient interactions. Together, they discuss safeguarding against biases and ensuring equitable access in healthcare.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Treat Chatbot Answers With Skepticism
- Beware that chatbots can produce convincing but incorrect medical information.
- Check AI outputs against clinicians and avoid over-relying on single chatbot answers.
Use AI To Triage Not Diagnose
- Ask AI to rate the urgency of your symptoms rather than request a definitive diagnosis.
- Use AI to flag red-flag symptoms and prepare questions for your next doctor visit.
Turn Visit Notes Into Actionable Questions
- Upload visit transcripts or lab results to AI to get clearer explanations and follow-up questions.
- Use those AI-generated questions to make clinic visits more productive.