2026 CMA Health and Media Tracking Survey

Key Findings

• — 27% of Canadians trust ChatGPT or other AI platforms to provide accurate health and health-system information
• — 52% have used AI search results (such as Google's) for health information; 39% have used AI platforms (such as ChatGPT) for treatment, and both remaining measures (AI platforms for health information, AI search results for treatment) stand at 48%
• — People who followed health advice from AI were five times more likely to report a bad reaction, adverse reaction or negative health effect from following online health advice in the past three years than those who did not use AI for health
• — Gen Z and Millennials were more likely to use AI to diagnose and treat a health issue

Methodology Notes

Online survey of 5,000 Canadians (reported n = 5,001 on the charts), fielded 3-13 November 2025 in English and French, with oversamples in Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia, weighted to census data; comparable probability-sample margin +/-1.38%. The five-times harm figure is a self-reported incidence ratio between AI users and non-users for health information/treatment; it is cross-sectional, so causation is not established. Publication month only (CMA Digital Library: 'Date 2026-02'; suggested citation '2026 Feb'); exact day not stated. cma.ca press release returned 403 (Cloudflare) and is unread.

Sources