AI Health Advice Fills the Access Gap Patients Cannot Close

The condition driving AI health adoption is not enthusiasm — it is the comparative cost of the alternative. When 65% of patients report choosing AI because it is easier than reaching a provider, the tool's error rate becomes secondary to its availability. The Zocdoc AI-Informed Patient report on access barriers establishes this clearly: the AI consultation is not a preference, it is a workaround for a system that fails on scheduling, cost, and wait time before a clinical question is even asked.