Evaluating ChatGPT Responses to HIV-Related Patient Questions: Opportunities and Limitations for Patient Counselling

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as ChatGPT in patient healthcare-seeking behaviour raises important questions about their role in HIV counselling. This letter presents an exploratory qualitative evaluation of ten commonly asked HIV-related patient questions posed to ChatGPT (GPT-4, OpenAI), with responses recorded verbatim and evaluated for depth, clinical nuance, and appropriateness. While responses were largely accurate, they lacked counselling depth and clinical nuance required for individualised patient counselling. These platforms offer accessibility and anonymity, which may benefit people living with HIV seeking sensitive information. However, overreliance on AI-generated responses poses risks of misinformation. The safe and effective incorporation of ChatGPT into HIV counselling practice requires a collaborative approach with physicians, AI developers, and regulatory bodies.