AI-generated doctors are spreading dubious health advice on TikTok and gaining millions of views, prompting experts to warn of a "huge danger to public safety." Research published this month by digital marketing agency Hallam found that misleading AI content now appears in a substantial proportion of top health-related videos on the platform.
Hallam analysed 1,198 videos across search terms including "health tips" and "doctor advice." AI-generated content accounted for 40% of the top results, and for the specific term "health tips," the figure was 84%. The most-watched AI doctor videos averaged 2.5 million views. TikTok removed several examples after they were flagged by the Guardian.
Myths, miracle cures and a fake anti-ageing product
Deepfake accounts designed to resemble real physicians spread disproven myths about cancer causes - including claims that microwaving food in plastic, using deodorants or sleeping next to a mobile phone can cause cancer. All of these claims have been refuted by Cancer Research UK. Other videos promoted Coca-Cola mixed with onion as a pain-relief remedy and a non-existent product called "Hyalethinap Plus Pro Max" marketed as an anti-ageing solution. One avatar falsely claimed to have recommended the product to patients for years, saying it could combat "hair loss, skin weakening, brittle nails and joint pain." The Guardian could find no evidence of the product online.
The proliferation of AI-generated medical personas underscores the need for social media professionals to detect and manage such content. For IT and development teams building moderation tools or overseeing social platforms, a focused course on Social Media can build the skills to identify and respond to AI-driven disinformation.
TikTok responds
A TikTok spokesperson said the findings from a marketing agency with commercial interests did not accurately reflect the platform. "The facts are that we remove harmful health misinformation, including when it's AI-generated, we partner with the World Health Organization and the NHS on providing reliable health information in-app, and we continually invest in AI literacy resources and labelling technologies."
Medical leaders cite 'real risk' of harm
Dr Emma Runswick, deputy chair of the British Medical Association council, said AI accounts "peddle medical myths and promote so-called miracle cures." She warned that platforms like TikTok must do more to stop dangerous fake medical advice, "otherwise, it is the public who could be paying the price with their health and perhaps even their lives."
Prof Frankie Swords, national medical director at NHS England, said the rise in online misinformation is concerning. "Many clinicians are reporting an increasing number of patients who feel worried and confused due to false advice that has been made solely for clicks," she said. Prof Victoria Tzortziou Brown, president of the Royal College of GPs, added that misleading AI content carries a "real risk" of harm. Alex Ruani, health misinformation researcher at UCL, described the phenomenon as "industrialised exploitation of trust."
A poll conducted last year by Healthwatch England found that about one in five people in England use social media for health information. William Pett, interim director of policy and public affairs, said without the skills to distinguish reliable information, people "risk being misled in ways that can seriously affect their health."
Why this matters for healthcare, IT and development professionals
For clinicians, the spread of AI-generated medical falsehoods directly threatens patient safety. Staying informed about how AI is misused - and how it can be applied responsibly - is becoming a core competency. Healthcare professionals can explore training on the ethical integration of AI into clinical practice through AI for Healthcare resources. For IT and development teams, the challenge is operational: building systems that detect deepfake content at scale and enforcing platform integrity without undermining free expression. The same AI literacy that helps developers build better moderation pipelines also equips them to prevent their own tools from being exploited in campaigns like these.
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