A new study by Dr. Bruce Mazer suggests that artificial intelligence (AI), specifically the chatbot ChatGPT, could be a useful tool to help parents understand oral immunotherapy (OIT) for their children’s food allergies. OIT is a medically supervised process that introduces small amounts of allergens to build tolerance over time. The treatment is complex and can be stressful for families, who often seek extra information online. Researchers tested ChatGPT’s ability to answer 14 frequently asked questions about OIT and found that its responses were mostly accurate, understandable, and consistent—particularly for general or advanced topics.
However, the study also highlighted some important drawbacks. ChatGPT struggled with more nuanced medical questions and sometimes gave conflicting or vague answers. Experts reviewing the responses noted that the language was often too technical, making it hard for the average reader to follow. While ChatGPT may help fill information gaps, the authors caution that it should never replace guidance from healthcare professionals. The team recommends future work on AI tools tailored to medical accuracy and accessible language, ensuring safe and effective support for families undergoing allergy treatment.
Read the Publication
Can ChatGPT provide parent education for oral immunotherapy? Abi-Rafeh J, Toscano-Rivero D, Mazer BD.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2025 Jul;135(1):87-90. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2025.04.011. Epub 2025 Apr 24.