Podcast Summary: Behind the Numbers (eMarketer)

Episode Title: The Great BTN Bake (Take) Off — Digital Health Trends for 2026: Dr. ChatGPT vs. Dr. Google and AI for Mental Health Therapy
Air Date: January 20, 2026
Host: Marcus Johnson (B)
Guests:

• Beth Snyder Bulik (A), Senior Analyst
• Rajeev Leventhal (C), Senior Analyst

Overview

This episode of Behind the Numbers dives into the rapid evolution of digital health, focusing on predictions for 2026. The hosts discuss two major digital health trends: the rise of "Dr. ChatGPT" overtaking "Dr. Google" for health searches, and the increasing use of AI for mental health therapy and support. Through a three-round structure—with each analyst presenting a trend, exploring its technical and societal implications, and delivering closing arguments—they examine data, real-world behaviors, regulatory concerns, and ethical debates at the intersection of AI and healthcare.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introduction to the Topic and Format

• Podcast kicks off with light banter and movie trivia, then shifts to the main topic at [03:51]: “The great Behind the Numbers bake-off takeoff: Digital Health Trends to Watch in 2026.”
• The competition has three rounds:
  1. Signature Take (present the trend)
  2. How It Will Technically Play Out (deep dive, evidence)
  3. Show-Stopping Argument (the final persuasive pitch)

2. Round 1: Signature Take

[04:40] Rajeev’s Trend:

• Dr. Google gives way to Dr. ChatGPT
  • People increasingly use AI chatbots (especially ChatGPT) for health information, overtaking traditional Google searches in usefulness for context-rich, personalized answers.
  • “While of course Google and search engines will still be a very big part of how people find health information online, there will be very specific use cases that could make ChatGPT an even more powerful source of medical information…” – Rajeev [06:00]

[07:10] Beth’s Trend:

• AI for Mental Health Therapy
  • U.S. consumers will increasingly rely on AI for mental health therapy and support.
  • “We already know that 40 million people are using ChatGPT every day for healthcare advice…49% of people who self-report that they have a mental health condition are using AI specifically for mental health support…” – Beth [07:23]
  • Over 1.2 million weekly users discuss suicidal thoughts on ChatGPT [07:56].

3. Round 2: Technical Details and Societal Impact

A. Dr. Google → Dr. ChatGPT

• Personalization of Health Queries:

  • Chatbots enable contextual and follow-up questions, unlike static web searches.
  • Example: Instead of typing “what causes headaches” into Google, you might write to ChatGPT, “I've had mild headaches for the past week, mostly in the afternoons, and I drink coffee. What could be causing this?” [09:28]

• Key Data:

  • ~800 million weekly ChatGPT users globally; 25% submit at least one health query per week (~200 million health questions/week) [11:40].
  • 31% of users say AI is easier than search engines for health info [11:55].

• Behavioral Dynamics:

  • The trend is less about Google’s replacement and more about ChatGPT being preferred for nuanced or complex situations—especially when human doctors aren’t available (e.g., late at night, urgent pediatric questions) [12:57].
  • Marcus: “Going to the doctor is expensive. It’s difficult. Are we saying most people are going for the serious things, but using AI for lighter/intermediate issues?” [16:07]
  • Rajeev: “People are looking for a reason not to go to the doctor, let’s be honest…It’s a super convenient tool…” [16:42]

• Limitations and Risks:

  • While trust in AI-produced medical advice is rising (40% trust, 30% don’t) [14:18], studies show 20-40% of leading AI chatbot responses are “problematic,” and 5-13% “unsafe” (not peer-reviewed yet) [14:18, 29:39].
  • Doctors are wary: “Doctors already hate Dr. Google…they don’t love it anyway…” — Beth [15:08]
  • Rajeev: “It might give you a little bit of a false sense of security…” [16:42]

B. AI for Mental Health Therapy

• Key Statistics:

  • Main reasons users choose AI mental health support ([19:06]):
    • 90%: Accessible anytime
    • 70%: Low cost/free
    • 59%: Quick answers
    • 47%: Anonymity
    • 30%: No access to a human therapist

• Access and Equity:

  • “We know there’s a shortage of healthcare providers in general. And there’s certainly a shortage of mental health therapists…” – Beth [20:21]
  • Money is a major driver: “70% say because of money…” – Beth [20:42]
  • Rajeev adds: Mental health is unique because of the desire for anonymity; even with telehealth, AI feels less intimidating than talking to a human [20:50].

• Emotional Context and AI as ‘Companion’:

  • “Mental health therapy is all context…you want to talk to somebody…that’s someone that you talked about, Rajeev, almost being a person—that’s the AI chatbot.” – Beth [21:51]

• Regulation and Legal Issues:

  • States (Illinois, Nevada) and the FDA/FTC are moving to regulate or ban AI claiming to diagnose/treat mental health [22:45].
    • “Illinois specifically has a $10,000 fine for AI companies that use AI for therapy, counseling, decisions, or diagnosis.” – Beth [22:45]
  • Most platforms claim they merely “support” or “coach” to avoid regulatory scrutiny [23:51].
  • “There is a big gray area…some of these AI services, to me, provide treatment…” — Rajeev [23:51]
  • Lawsuits are emerging against OpenAI: “ChatGPT is facing multiple lawsuits now…from parents claiming…their kids committed suicide, and they’re alleging that ChatGPT conversations had a role in that.” [25:04]

• Will regulation stop this trend?

  • “I don’t think it’s going to stop people…you can regulate, you can put up guardrails…but you can’t regulate people’s behavior…or that drive, you can’t regulate loneliness…” – Beth [25:58]
  • Companies like Amazon encourage use of AI mental health apps among employees for quick, anonymous support [26:46].

4. Round 3: Show-Stopping Arguments

Rajeev’s Final Argument ([27:41]):

• OpenAI’s launch of ChatGPT Health is a “game changer,” letting users upload medical data and receive feedback and suggestions—far more than what Dr. Google could do.
  • “I can give my blood work to ChatGPT Health…my data from Weight Watchers…they can tell me what this means and give me suggestions to change my diet, my workout…that’s going to be I think a game changer…” – Rajeev [28:21]
• Misinformation remains a risk: “Won’t they also ingest more garbage and misinformation?” “Definitely…we didn’t talk enough about the risks of misinformation…problematic and even dangerous when it comes to your health.” [28:55]

Beth’s Final Argument ([30:10]):

• Regulation and platform guardrails will grow, but they won’t stop demand because “you can’t remove that fundamental demand” for affordable, accessible, and anonymous mental health support. This need is only intensifying as healthcare grows more expensive and the supply of human therapists lags.
  • “It’s not about is AI therapy, is AI mental health advice, some kind of hypothetical—it’s happening right now…The big question is not about how the trend’s happening, but more about how to make it safe, more responsible…” – Beth [31:13]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Doctors already hate Dr. Google, right? ...so I don’t know [if] the doctors, but I really liked Rajeev’s point about the context…especially as a parent.” – Beth [15:08]
• “People are looking for a reason not to go to the doctor, let’s be honest. And this is, it’s a super convenient tool.” – Rajeev [16:42]
• “70% say [they use AI therapy] because of money…they’re using AI for therapy because…” – Beth [20:42]
• “There is a big gray area…some of these AI services, to me, provide treatment. It might not be treatment in the form of a drug, but it’s still treatment.” – Rajeev [23:51]
• “I don’t think it’s going to stop people…you can regulate, you can put up guardrails…but you can’t regulate people’s behavior…you can’t regulate loneliness…” – Beth [25:58]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:51 – Introduction to the topic and format
• 04:40 – Rajeev’s signature take: Dr. Google vs. Dr. ChatGPT
• 07:10 – Beth’s signature take: AI and mental health therapy
• 09:28 – How Dr. ChatGPT emerges; differences in search context
• 11:40 – Global usage and major user statistics
• 16:07 – Who’s turning to AI, when, and for what severity
• 19:06 – AI for mental health: usage reasons and access issues
• 22:45 – Regulation and legal landscape for AI health/therapy
• 23:51 – Defining “treatment” and regulatory gray zones
• 25:04 – Lawsuits and AI’s dangers in mental health
• 27:41 – Show-stopping arguments: OpenAI’s Health platform and access issues
• 29:39 – Misinformation and safety concerns
• 30:10 – Beth’s concluding argument on demand and safety

Conclusion

The episode highlights that as AI tools like ChatGPT rapidly integrate into healthcare searches and mental health support, users and providers face major opportunities and risks. Personalization, comfort, and accessibility for users are pitted against concerns over accuracy, safety, regulation, and the potential for harm. Both trends—the rise of “Dr. ChatGPT” and AI-driven therapy—are already reshaping health behaviors in the U.S. and globally, with rapid adoption triggering both optimism and alarm among experts, regulators, and the public.

Final Thought from Marcus ([31:22]):
“If you put both your dishes together, it makes for one hell of a meal…these trends are so intrinsically linked.”

For more digital health trends, explore eMarketer’s “Health Trends to Watch in 2026” report.