Sharing symptoms with AI, using explainer apps and mental health chatbots—AI is fast becoming a first stop for healthcare queries

The upside is quick and affordable care on demand; the flip side is trusting algorithms with confidential health info

- Aditi Sarawagi

Not too long ago, any medical "diagnosis" began at home, with grandmothers and aunts prescribing cures for everything from colds to burns. Soon after, the neighborhood doctor became the ultimate authority, even if his magic fix was an electrolyte shot for every ailment. Then came the internet, and WebMD turned every sneeze into a death sentence.

Cut to 2025, and generative AI has stepped into that role, dishing out instant answers for everything from scratches to suspicious moles, and, perhaps most importantly, offering the kind of validation that overthinkers like me once sought from the best doctors in town. As of March 2025, India made up 27.4% of users on Docus.ai's symptom checker, second only to the US. With its doctor-to-patient ratio far below the global average, it's no surprise Indians are leaning on AI for health queries. From easing doctors' admin load to offering 24/7 chatbots that answer questions and provide a stigma-free space for mental health, AI is quickly becoming less of a novelty and more of a go-to first stop for care.

When IT Professional Sarbartha Chakrabarti's 3.5-year-old son Hiaan showed early signs of chickenpox, he turned to ChatGPT for help. By sharing photos and describing symptoms, he received clear advice on what to monitor, how to soothe his skin, and what foods to give without stepping out at all. "Days later, my wife, Eliza, also caught it. Her case was more severe, with throat blisters and full-body rashes. I again shared pictures, got medication guidance, suggestions for soothing creams, food options, and daily care tips tailored to her evolving symptoms", shares Chakrabarti. "I got visual symptom interpretation, medicine timing advice, and personalized daily care tips based on real-time updates. It felt like having a digital nurse, doctor, and family support rolled into one. I was able to consult ChatGPT 24/7, without waiting for doctors' appointments", he emphasizes.