Doctor said we should all be concerned
A BBC expert has said he is “very concerned” about content being shared online. Speaking on BBC Morning Live, Dr Ranj Singh said he’d seen photos from the show and videos of himself being circulated to support health claims, but stressed the material was actually AI-generated and had misled many people.
Hosts Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton asked Doctor Ranj whether he was worried about AI-generated health content – and if the public should be concerned. He replied: “If I’m honest, we should be very concerned.”
Sadly, he shared that “AI-generated imagery of Morning Live” is being used to sell false health claims, and some of it can “mislead people.” Showing a photo of Jones with a so-called expert on the BBC show, the host stressed that it was fake and not actually him.
The doctor then said that it “genuinely misled a lot of people.” He added: “I’ve had AI videos of myself out there that are completely fake – and there’s virtually no regulation in the space at the moment.”
AI can be good, says Dr Ranj Singh
The doctor isn’t entirely against artificial intelligence, noting that it can be useful in many ways, including within the health care system. He explained that he’s working on a project with the NHS to help diagnose sepsis in kids quicker and that it can be a great tool when regulated and used in these ways.
While AI can be a useful tool, it also has disadvantages. He explained it can make facts up, make videos and photos that look real, and create deepfakes to create credibility. It can also give a false sense of authority. Because of this, he urges people to always check sources, verify any claims, and not rely on AI alone for health advice.
Ask these five questions
The doctor urges people to ask these five questions when looking at information about health or any other topic.
- Who is it that’s presenting the information? Are they qualified? Are they relevant? Are they registered? Are they an expert?
- What’s the evidence? Is it backed by genuine scientific research and high-quality studies?
- Is the research new, up-to-date and current, or is it old information that has been rehashed
- Is the person presenting trying to sell you something? If yes, it does not mean they are not credible, but the doctor warns there needs to be “transparency”
- Go back to official sources like NICE, NHS and relevant charities and fact check claims
He added: “Popularity is not proof. Don’t share unverified claims unless you are absolutely sure it’s true and if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.”
Misleading online health claims
In the same segment, the BBC expert said the public “have to be cautious and wary” of information that circulates online – even if it’s not AI-generated. He said the key thing to watch for with health claims online is that they often start with a kernel of truth grounded in real science, before being twisted into something inaccurate, untrue and misleading.
In a “classic example” of something he experienced recently, he said that there are misleading claims about alkaline water. He explained: “When we’re sick, our bodies can be more acidic and that’s not a particularly good thing. The claim is that alkaline water reduces the acidity in our blood and in our bodies.”
Setting the facts straight, he said: “Drinking alkaline water doesn’t do anything to your blood acidity because your body is already very good at doing that. And actually if you drink water that’s too alkaline, you end up in serious trouble because it’s not very good for you.”
If it’s published, it does not mean it’s true
Dr Ranj said there are tactics that claim there’s evidence or scientific studies behind something – but not all medical research is equal. There are robust, high-quality studies and there are poorly designed ones, and publication alone doesn’t make a claim true.
He also stressed that a study in five mice is “not the same” as a large randomised controlled trial involving many people. Finally, he warned about confusing correlation with causation: just because two things happen around the same time doesn’t mean one caused the other – they may be unrelated.
What key words could suggest fake information?
Dr Ranj urged people to look out for keywords such as miracle, detox, and guaranteed results. In fact, one phrase is “what doctors don’t tell you – that’s a big red flag for me”, he said.
Bearing these words and phrases in mind, the expert says these fake health claims often promise quick fixes, pick on an insecurity or a problem, and then try to sell you a solution. He added that health is complex and not straightforward for many people, and warned that such content often relies on misleading or emotive language.
He explained people often buy into these claims because they feel personally relevant – many people have health concerns, and the promise of a solution can be really “enticing”. Posts may offer “simple hacks” or quick fixes that sound too good to be true, or claim to meet a specific, unique need.
In his final advice, he warned that repeatedly seeing the same person online can create a false sense of trust. He also said what works for one person may not work for others, and urged people not to change their health plan based only on something they’ve seen online.
If you are concerned about your health, seek help from your doctor.