How Does ChatGPT Use Source Information Compared With Google? A Text Network Analysis of Online Health Information

CONCLUSION: ChatGPT responses are similar to individual Google Search results for queries related to orthopaedic surgery, but the distribution of source information can vary substantially based on the relative level of consensus on a topic. For example, for carpal tunnel syndrome, where there is widely accepted medical consensus, ChatGPT responses had higher similarity to academic sources and therefore used those sources more. When fewer academic or government sources are available, especially in our search related to platelet-rich plasma, ChatGPT appears to have relied more heavily on a small number of nonacademic sources. These findings persisted even as ChatGPT was updated from version 3.5 to version 4.0.CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Physicians should be aware that ChatGPT and Google likely use the same sources for a specific question. The main difference is that ChatGPT can draw upon multiple sources to create one aggregate response, while Google maintains its distinctness by providing multiple results. For topics with a low consensus and therefore a low number of quality sources, there is a much higher chance that ChatGPT will use less-reliable sources, in which case physicians should take the time to educate patients on the topic or provide resources that give more reliable information. Physician organizations should make it clear when the evidence is limited so that ChatGPT can reflect the lack of quality information or evidence.PMID:38517757 | PMC:PMC10936961 | DOI:10.1097/CORR...
Source: Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research - Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Source Type: research