Googling when you're ill: How good are digital diagnoses really?

The role of AI in modern health advice

The integration of artificial intelligence into health advice has increased significantly in recent years. Various digital health advisors allow users to enter symptoms and provide possible diagnoses or recommendations for treatment based on medical databases. Platforms such as Ada Health and WebMD's Symptom Checker are among the most well-known of this type.

According to the Google Blog, AI-powered healthcare solutions can make a valuable contribution, especially in regions with limited access to medical care. However, they are not a replacement for medical diagnoses, but rather a complementary source of information. Despite their ongoing development, the question remains as to how accurate and reliable these systems actually are.

Reliability and accuracy of AI diagnostic tools

Studies on the accuracy of AI-supported diagnostic systems show mixed results. According to a study on JMIR mHealth and uHealth, Ada Health's symptom checker achieved a hit rate of 70 percent, while physicians achieved an accuracy rate of 69 percent in the same study. Despite these positive results, challenges remain. Algorithms rely on existing medical data, which does not always represent all clinical pictures in their entirety. As a result, misdiagnosis can occur, especially for rare or complex diseases.

Patient trust in AI-supported advice

Despite technological advances, trust in AI-assisted diagnoses remains limited. A study by the University of Würzburg shows that medical recommendations are less trusted when they come from an AI. Even in cases where doctors work with AI support, the diagnoses are perceived as less reliable.

This skepticism can be attributed, among other things, to the fact that many patients prefer a personal interaction with a doctor. While AI systems are based on data and algorithms, human doctors are believed to have a deeper understanding of individual needs and greater emotional competence.

Current developments and investments in health AI

Technology companies like Google are increasingly investing in the further development of AI-powered healthcare solutions. Several innovations were presented at "The Check Up" 2025 event, including improved symptom analysis and more accurate disease detection.

A key goal of these investments is to increase model transparency to reduce misdiagnoses and increase user trust in these technologies. Progress in this area could, in the long term, help increase the acceptance of AI-supported health advice and further optimize the reliability of these systems.

Editorial team finanzen.net

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