The development of [artificial intelligence] is as fundamental as the creation of the microprocessor, the personal computer, the Internet, and the mobile phone. It will change the way people work, learn, travel, get health care, and communicate with each other.
Bill Gates 1
As the world emerges from the pandemic and the health care system faces new challenges, technology has become an increasingly important tool for health care professionals (HCPs). One such technology is the large language model (LLM), which has the potential to revolutionize the health care industry. ChatGPT, a popular LLM developed by OpenAI, has gained particular attention in the medical community for its ability to pass the United States Medical Licensing Exam.2 This article will explore the benefits and potential pitfalls of using LLMs like ChatGPT in medicine and health care.
Benefits
HCP burnout is a serious issue that can lead to lower productivity, increased medical errors, and decreased patient satisfaction.3 LLMs can alleviate some administrative burdens on HCPs, allowing them to focus on patient care. By assisting with billing, coding, insurance claims, and organizing schedules, LLMs like ChatGPT can free up time for HCPs to focus on what they do best: providing quality patient care.4 ChatGPT also can assist with diagnoses by providing accurate and reliable information based on a vast amount of clinical data. By learning the relationships between different medical conditions, symptoms, and treatment options, ChatGPT can provide an appropriate differential diagnosis (Figure 1).
Imaging medical specialists like radiologists, pathologists, dermatologists, and others can benefit from combining computer vision diagnostics with ChatGPT report creation abilities to streamline the diagnostic workflow and improve diagnostic accuracy (Figure 2).
Although using ChatGPT and other LLMs in mental health care has potential benefits, it is essential to note that they are not a substitute for human interaction and personalized care. While ChatGPT can remember information from previous conversations, it cannot provide the same level of personalized, high-quality care that a professional therapist or HCP can. However, by augmenting the work of HCPs, ChatGPT and other LLMs have the potential to make mental health care more accessible and efficient. In addition to providing effective screening in underserved areas, ChatGPT technology may improve the competence of physician assistants and nurse practitioners in delivering mental health care. With the increased incidence of mental health problems in veterans, the pertinence of a ChatGPT-like feature will only increase with time.9
ChatGPT can also be integrated into health care organizations’ websites and mobile apps, providing patients instant access to medical information, self-care advice, symptom checkers, scheduling appointments, and arranging transportation. These features can reduce the burden on health care staff and help patients stay informed and motivated to take an active role in their health. Additionally, health care organizations can use ChatGPT to engage patients by providing reminders for medication renewals and assistance with self-care.4,6,10,11
The potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of medical education and research is immense. According to a study by Gilson and colleagues, ChatGPT has shown promising results as a medical education tool.12 ChatGPT can simulate clinical scenarios, provide real-time feedback, and improve diagnostic skills. It also offers new interactive and personalized learning opportunities for medical students and HCPs.13 ChatGPT can help researchers by streamlining the process of data analysis. It can also administer surveys or questionnaires, facilitate data collection on preferences and experiences, and help in writing scientific publications.14 Nevertheless, to fully unlock the potential of these AI models, additional models that perform checks for factual accuracy, plagiarism, and copyright infringement must be developed.15,16