HIV Prevention and Treatment Information from Four Artificial Intelligence Platforms: A Thematic Analysis

Health information is highly accessible with the prominence of artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, such as Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT). Within the context of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), it is paramount to understand and evaluate the information being provided by AI platforms concerning the safety, side effects, and efficacy of medications to prevent and treat HIV. Prompts (n = 38) requesting information regarding HIV medication use for prevention and treatment were inputted into three AI-based Large Language Models (LLMs; ChatGPT 3.5, ChatGPT 4.0, Google Bard [now Gemini]) and one chatbot (HIV.gov Chatbot) on four consecutive weeks. Outputs (n = 608) were recorded verbatim, weekly by platform. Qualitative analyses using a conventional content analysis coding approach examined key themes in responses; response comprehensiveness was rated via the number of themes represented in a response. Core themes emerged across prompts. A recommendation to speak with a medical professional for further information was the most common theme across platforms. Organ/bone side effects were the most prevalent side effect. Responses pointed to medication efficacy to prevent and treat HIV. ChatGPT 4.0 provided the most comprehensive responses across platforms, while the HIV.gov Chatbot gave the least comprehensive information. Health information on HIV medication safety, side effects, and efficacy is widely available using AI platforms. Results indicate that AI responses typically included recommendations to consult a medical professional to personalize care. The efficacy of medications was never questioned across AI platforms. Future research directions for AI use within the context of HIV prevention and care are provided.