[Comment from moderator, NPW: Thanks Chris, this is an interesting avenue. I have added the following words to the subject line: 'Chatbots are designed to satisfy the buyer' so that we can track subsequent discussion]
One problem with chatbots that seems to be enduring is sycophancy, as a number of recent articles have pointed out.
Chatbots are a commercial product and, as such, are designed to fulfill the primary commercial imperative of satisfying the buyer. Given this overweening objective, they consequently find it hard to break bad health news to the user. Telling the harsh truth comes a long way behind keeping the customer happy.
In the hands of a human interpreter - a nurse or physician - AI can certainly be a powerful tool but, without human mediation, there is no way AI could be "the most reliable physician in history".
Best,
Chris
Chris Zielinski
Centre for Global Health, University of Winchester, UK and
President, World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)
Blogs; http://ziggytheblue.wordpress.com and http://ziggytheblue.tumblr.com
Publications: http://www.researchgate.net and https://winchester.academia.edu/ChrisZielinski/
HIFA Profile: Chris Zielinski held senior positions at the World Health Organization for 15 years, in Africa, WHOs Geneva Headquarters, and India, and earlier in other UN-system organizations working in writing, media, publishing, knowledge management, and intellectual property. He also spent three years as Chief Executive of the Authors Licensing and Collecting Society (looking after the intellectual property revenues of all UK authors and journalists). Chris was the founder of the ExtraMED project (Third World biomedical journals on CD-ROM), and managed the Gates Foundation-supported Health Information Centres project. At WHO he was appointed to the Ethical Review Committee, and was an originator of the African Health Observatory during his years in Brazzaville. With interests in the information, and computer ethics and bioethics, Chris has edited numerous books and journals and worked as a translator. Now working independently, Chris has recently finished writing a travel book called Afreekinout. Email: chris AT chriszielinski.com