The data: Eight in 10 adults who use AI for health information also use other sources of information in combination with AI, according to a 2026 Luth Research study that digitally tracked 1,538 consumers and then surveyed 537 US adults who used AI for health information in the past 12 months. Six in 10 AI users turned to health information sites and apps as a second source.

Why it matters: Patients turn to AI for speed and health websites for trust.

• AI: When asked why they turned to AI, patients said it was to research a doctor’s explanation more thoroughly (47%), as an easier-to-ask resource than their doctor (44%), and for better understanding of information (40%), per Luth.
• Health websites: When asked why they used health sites, patients said it’s because they were familiar with the source (57%), trusted it to provide reliable information (56%), and valued that the information has clinical validation (42%).

Use of AI and health websites shows up at different points in the health journey. Luth’s digital tracking showed that patients have higher reliance on AI at the onset of symptoms but a lower reliance on the tech for higher-stakes health decisions. The inverse is true of health sites (lower reliance at the onset of symptoms, higher reliance when preparing for appointments). And in a separate survey, 36% say AI should be used to prepare questions for a doctor, while 30% see AI as useful to determine whether symptoms are important or what type of physician to see, per a February Zocdoc survey.

Implications for healthcare and pharma brands: Health websites still matter as consumers research and verify health information, making credible, original content important even as more health research moves through AI. Brands can focus that content on the information people are seeking as they get closer to healthcare decisions, including clinical evidence, treatment details, side effects, and questions to discuss with their providers. That content can serve patients looking beyond AI answers while also strengthening brands’ visibility within AI results.