Assessing the Use, Impact, and Perspectives of Generative Artificial Intelligence Among Health Consumers: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Saudi Arabia

Background/Objectives: Saudi Health consumers increasingly rely on generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) to access health information from a growing number of health-related resources. Little is known about the frequency and patterns of generative AI tool use for seeking health information among consumers, its reported impact, and health consumers’ perceptions of these tools. This study aims to investigate the use of and perspectives on generative AI tools among health consumers in Saudi Arabia (SA). It also aims to assess the impact of their use on health-seeking behaviours. Methods: An exploratory, cross-sectional, self-administered online survey was distributed to adults (≥18 years) residing in SA during two data collection rounds in 2026 (March–April and July–August). All adults who used generative AI tools to seek online health information in the past year were included. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to examine relationships among variables. Results: A total of 403 eligible health consumers (58% male) participated. Among respondents who had used generative AI for health purposes, approximately 49% reported using it more than five times per month. Younger age, higher income, and more frequent pre-use were associated with higher odds of frequent seeking health information behaviour. Headache, abdominal pain, and musculoskeletal pain were the most common claims. ChatGPT was the main platform (84%) used for seeking information. Age was significantly negatively associated with frequency, whereas income and pre-visit use were positively associated. The primary reasons for seeking health information via generative AI were quick information retrieval (71%), time saving (34%), and curiosity (30.5%). Conclusions: The high frequency of use suggests that generative AI can serve as a source of health information and may lead users to withhold health information from healthcare providers. It may influence subsequent health-seeking behaviours, such as requesting urgent care or postponing physician visits. These self-reported findings do not establish diagnostic accuracy, clinical effectiveness, or patient safety, and the clinical risk and appropriateness of self-management actions were not assessed. Many respondents reported concerns about inaccurate information, missed serious illness, and increased health anxiety.