Rock Health’s 11th Consumer Adoption of Digital Health Survey, based on responses from 8,000 U.S. adults in December 2025, indicates a rapid shift in how consumers engage with health information. The report finds that 32% of respondents have used AI chatbots for health-related queries, marking a doubling from 16% the previous year. Among these users, 64% report engaging with AI tools on at least a weekly basis.
A defining trend is the dominance of general-purpose AI platforms. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of users reported turning to tools such as ChatGPT, compared to only 5% using provider-developed chatbots and 4% using payer-developed tools. This suggests consumers are bypassing traditional healthcare system interfaces in favor of more accessible alternatives.
“The healthcare status quo isn’t working,” noted Dr. Robert Wachter, Chair of the UCSF Department of Medicine, in the report. “I can’t see how we get to better, safer, more accessible, more convenient… care unless we use AI tools effectively.”
The survey also identifies a distinct user profile described as the “healthcare superuser.” These individuals actively track multiple health metrics—averaging four per person—with higher engagement in lifestyle indicators such as sleep (43%), diet (40%), and stress (35%). Compared to non-users, they demonstrate higher utilization across both virtual and in-person care settings, often arriving at clinical encounters with detailed prior research.
Importantly, adoption appears broadly distributed across socioeconomic groups, with no meaningful differences observed by income or education level. This contrasts with earlier digital health trends, where uptake was more closely tied to affordability.
At the same time, increased AI usage introduces new considerations around data privacy. AI users show a greater willingness to share health data with technology companies while being less likely to share with traditional providers. “The second we leave the walls of the healthcare system, we’re trading off for a lot of other risks and lack of rights,” warned Andrea Downing, Co-founder of The Light Collective.
Generational differences remain significant, with adoption highest among Millennials (48%) and Gen Z (45%), and substantially lower among older populations. Overall, 81% of AI users report taking action בעקבות an AI interaction, including seeking further information, modifying behaviors, or consulting healthcare professionals.
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