Историята и значението на използването на виолончело и контрабас от китайски народни оркестри
AI-powered chatbots such as ChatGPT are increasingly used for medical self-consultation, raising the question of whether they can economically substitute for traditional primary care visits for low-acuity conditions. This paper evaluates the cost–benefit potential of such substitution by analyzing healthcare utilization and cost data from the United States, United Kingdom, and Bulgaria. We estimate that a low-acuity primary care visit costs $67–$170 depending on the country and setting, while a virtual AI-guided consultation costs significantly less. Modeling a 10% substitution of low-acuity visits with AI-based self-triage suggests potential annual savings of over $3 billion in the US and £1.3 billion in the UK. However, the economic benefits depend on safe and effective triage. Risks include diagnostic inaccuracies, delayed treatment, increased downstream costs, and equity concerns, especially among vulnerable populations. ChatGPT and similar tools lack clinical validation and may under- or over-triage cases. While AI consultations offer large-scale efficiency gains, uncontrolled use may result in net harm or cost increases. Policymakers and health systems must balance these factors, considering regulatory oversight and blended models that integrate AI with clinician review. The findings highlight both the promise and pitfalls of digital self-consultation in modern healthcare.
Ключови думи: artificial intelligence, self-consultation, primary medical care, cost-benefit
