Concerns are mounting over a significant public safety threat posed by AI-generated doctors disseminating dubious health advice on TikTok. New research highlights that these AI accounts are garnering millions of views, leading experts to warn of the potential for severe health consequences for the public.
Dr Emma Runswick, deputy chair of the British Medical Association council, underscored the dangers, stating that AI accounts are 'peddling medical myths and promoting so-called miracle cures'. She urged platforms like TikTok to enhance their efforts in curbing the spread of dangerous fake medical advice, emphasising that failure to do so could result in the public 'paying the price with their health and perhaps even their lives'.
The research, conducted by digital marketing agency Hallam, revealed that AI-generated physicians have propagated disproven cancer myths, such as claims that microwaving food in plastic, using deodorants, or sleeping next to a phone can cause cancer. These assertions have been explicitly refuted by Cancer Research UK. Furthermore, these accounts have promoted unusual remedies, including a mixture of Coca-Cola and onion for pain relief, and a non-existent product named 'Hyalethinap Plus Pro Max' touted as an anti-ageing solution, which was found to have no evidence of existence online.
The study found that AI-generated content featured in 40% of the top health-related TikTok videos, with many originating from deepfake influencer accounts designed to mimic real doctors. For specific search terms like 'health tips', as much as 84% of videos were categorised as AI-generated or AI-assisted. On average, top AI-generated doctor and health videos identified in the research received 2.5 million views. Following the Guardian's reporting, TikTok removed some of the identified videos.
Professor Frankie Swords, national medical director at NHS England, expressed alarm at the growing prevalence of online medical misinformation, noting that 'many clinicians are reporting an increasing number of patients who feel worried and confused due to false advice that has been made solely for clicks'. Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, president of the Royal College of GPs, echoed these concerns, highlighting the 'real risk' of harm from misleading AI content. A poll conducted last year by Savanta for Healthwatch England indicated that approximately one in five people in England use social media for health information, underscoring the broad reach of such platforms.
In response to the findings, a TikTok spokesperson stated that the research from a marketing agency with commercial interests was 'not an accurate reflection of our platform'. They affirmed that TikTok removes harmful health misinformation, including AI-generated content, and collaborates with organisations like the World Health Organization and the NHS to provide reliable health information within the app, alongside investing in AI literacy resources and labelling technologies.