AI as a Physician Companion in Enhancing Trust in Healthcare

Trust remains a fundamental pillar of the physician–patient relationship, ensuring care that is safe, evidence-based, and grounded in shared decision-making; however, the increasing use of artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT has introduced a new dynamic in how patients interpret symptoms and seek medical advice. This narrative describes a clinical encounter involving an elderly patient with multiple myeloma whose caregiver used ChatGPT to evaluate new-onset slurred speech suggestive of stroke, resulting in an urgent recommendation driven by incomplete clinical information. Through comprehensive history-taking, physical examination, and careful review of the Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated response, the physician reassured the caregiver, contextualized the limitations of AI input, and provided guidance on its appropriate use. Rather than undermining trust, this interaction demonstrated that AI can serve as a catalyst for patient engagement and timely care-seeking, while offering physicians an opportunity to validate concerns, enhance communication, and reinforce clinical reasoning. When integrated thoughtfully into clinical conversations, AI has the potential to strengthen trust, improve patient satisfaction, and support safer, more collaborative care.