What is Generative AI? What does this mean on Mayo Clinic Connect?

Generative AI (artificial intelligence) is a type of computer program that makes new content, like words, pictures, or sounds. It learns from lots of examples and finds patterns in the data, such as content on the Internet. You may have come across AI assistants or chatbots, like ChatGPT, CoPilot, Gemini and others, as you search for information about your health.

You may be reading AI-generated information when searching the internet. For example, Google provides an AI Overview for most searches using Gemini. In the image, I searched “What is Mayo Clinic Connect?”

By clicking the link icon, you can review where the chatbot got its information and check the accuracy of the newly presented information.

When you ask an AI assistant a question or give it a prompt, it looks at the data and then gives back answers or suggestions in plain language. But the information AI assistants give you isn’t always 100% accurate—it depends on the data it was trained on and how your question or prompt was worded.

How Can I Use Generative AI Safely?

Fact Check Everything

AI tools do not replace human judgment or oversight. Any text, image, or video generated by AI should be used only as a starting point, not as verified information. It may contain inaccuracies, biases, and other problems. Generative AI tools can sometimes generate plausible-sounding answers that are wrong.

• AI tools can sound sure, even when they’re wrong.
• Always check AI answers against trusted websites or books.
• Look for links or notes showing where the information came from.

Use Human Oversight

• Think of AI as your helper, not the final judge.
• Read and edit whatever the AI creates to fix mistakes or bias.
• If something seems odd or unfair, double-check with another source.

Ask for Sources

• You can tell your AI tool, “Please list your sources.”
• Check where this information came from.

Using AI on Mayo Clinic Connect

Mayo Clinic Connect is for sharing real health experiences and support. You do not need to use AI. If you share information from AI tools with the Mayo Clinic Connect community, please follow the guidance provided in the Community Guidelines.

You are responsible for the accuracy, originality and quality of your posts, whether a tool helped you or not. Here’s how to use AI the right way:

• Start with your own story and ideas. AI can add information but not replace you.
• If you use AI, use short AI quotes to back up your experience, not long AI essays.
• Do not use AI answers alone.
• Be open about your AI help. Say what question you asked or what prompt you used.

By doing this, you keep the conversations on Mayo Clinic Connect real, honest, and helpful for everyone.

Learn more tips

• Help Center
• Community Guidelines

Footnote: Co-pilot was used to review and edit this original blog post.