#AI4M: AI in the Exam Room – How Patients and Doctors Are Using Chatbots and Algorithms
Here are two articles that highlight a shift in how artificial intelligence is transforming the healthcare landscape.
The first article, “The AI doctor will see you now,” (Fast Company, November 7, 2025) explores NYU Langone Health’s integration of AI tools—like a private, HIPAA-compliant instance of ChatGPT—across thousands of use cases. From documentation support to mental health chatbots, AI is extending the healthcare workforce rather than replacing it. In an interview, Dr. Marc Triola emphasizes that AI tools enable more scalable care, particularly in areas with critical shortages, such as mental health.
The second “American patients are increasingly turning to AI for medical advice — so are their doctors,” “Sherwood News, January 9, 2026), introduces ChatGPT Health, OpenAI’s dedicated platform for health-related inquiries. With 40 million daily users globally seeking health advice and U.S. doctors rapidly adopting AI for documentation, diagnosis, and triage, the line between patient tool and provider support system is narrowing. A recent AMA study found two-thirds of U.S. physicians used health AI in 2024, a sharp jump from the prior year, reflecting both its utility and growing acceptance. These articles present an ideal case for discussing emerging marketing strategies, customer behavior shifts, and ethical concerns within digital health services.
A first draft of this blog post was generated with ChatGPT.
Relevant Chapters from Essentials of Marketing
These articles demonstrate how AI might potentially replace and/or supplement medical services (Chapter 8). It might also be used as an example of how consumer behavior, information search specifically, might change in the future (Chapter 5).
Class Discussion Ideas
These articles offer an opportunity to explore these concepts further and better develop your students critical thinking skills. One way to do that is with in-class activities and/or class discussion. Here are some ideas about how you might do that.
In-Class Activities
- AI Diagnosis Role Play. Students role-play as AI tools vs. traditional doctors in mock diagnosis scenarios using symptom checkers or chatbot simulations.
- AI Ethics Debate. Divide the class into two groups to debate: “AI tools like ChatGPT should be allowed to make health diagnoses.”
Discussion Questions (and Answer Ideas)
- Why are patients turning to AI tools like ChatGPT for medical advice? (Chapter 5)
- Answer: Accessibility, cost, privacy, and convenience. These tools help them feel more prepared and reduce anxiety.
- How is AI impacting traditional doctor-patient relationships? (Chapters 5, 8, and 9)
- Answer: It may enhance them by reducing admin burdens, but could depersonalize care if over-relied on.
- What are the marketing challenges for new health AI tools? (Chapters 3 and 7)
- Answer: Privacy concerns, lack of FDA approval for diagnosis, and the need to build trust with users.
- How do ChatGPT Health’s features reflect good product-market fit? (Chapter 8)
- Answer: It integrates with wearables, provides encrypted privacy, and helps users navigate complex health info.
- What ethical dilemmas arise from AI use in healthcare? (Chapters 8 and 19)
- Answer: Misdiagnosis, data privacy, liability, and the digital divide could limit access or fairness.
- How does NYU Langone’s use of private AI instances relate to consumer data concerns? (Chapter 8)
- Answer: It shows how organizations can balance innovation with HIPAA compliance to maintain patient trust.
- What types of promotional strategies might OpenAI use for ChatGPT Health? (Chapter 13)
- Answer: Content marketing, influencer doctors, case studies, or earned media via health news outlets.