The impact of the rise of the chatbots: transforming genetics clinical delivery and research

AIMS: The rapid integration of genetics into clinical care and research has outpaced the supply of genetic professionals, creating persistent challenges in patient education, communication, and clinical follow-up. Chatbotsrepresent a scalable tool to address these gaps by supporting patient education, risk assessment, informed consent, return of results, and family communication. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of the literature on chatbots applied to genetics and genomics based on a PubMed search of the terms "chatbot*" AND "genetic" conducted on 26 January 2025. RESULTS: From 35 eligible publications, we identified five primary applications of chatbots in genetics: (1) pre-testing and pre-counseling education; (2) family health history collection for risk assessment and triage; (3) informed consent for clinical or research testing; (4) facilitation of family communication and cascade testing; and (5) disease management. Reported benefits included improved patient knowledge, high usability and satisfaction, convenience, and the potential to streamline workflows and broaden access to services. CONCLUSIONS: While promising, challenges remain in ensuring content accuracy, addressing privacy and ethical concerns, and ensuring access and utilization. Future development should focus on culturally adaptive, user-centered design and rigorous evaluation to ensure safe, equitable, and effective integration of chatbots into clinical genetics and genomic research.