The use of large language models in medicine: proceeding with caution

Abstract

Large language models, like ChatGPT and Bard, have potential clinical applications due to their ability to generate conversational responses and encode medical knowledge. However, their clinical adoption faces challenges including hallucinations, lack of transparency, and lack of consistency. Ethicolegal concerns surrounding patient consent, legal liability, and data privacy further complicate matters. Despite their promise, an optimistic but cautious approach is essential for the safe integration of large language models into clinical settings.