When it comes to consumer chatbots, though, there is still caution, even though the technology is already widely available — and better than many alternatives. Many doctors believe AI-based medical tools should undergo an approval process similar to the FDA's regime for drugs, but that would be years away. It's unclear how such a regime might apply to general-purpose AIs like ChatGPT.
"We need physicians to start realizing that these new tools are here to stay and they're offering new capabilities both to physicians and patients," said James Benoit, an AI consultant. The proposition that AI should be embraced because it represents a marginal improvement over Dr. Google is unconvincing, these critics say.