A January survey of 1,000 U.S. adults found that one-third have turned to ChatGPT or similar artificial intelligence tools for nutrition and weight-loss guidance. This growing trend reflects the challenges many face in navigating healthy eating, from creating balanced meal plans to managing diet-related health conditions.

Alice Callahan, a nutrition reporter at The New York Times, is investigating how people are using A.I. chatbots for dietary advice. She notes that eating well often feels overwhelming, requiring extensive nutrition knowledge and time that many lack. The complexity of meal planning, grocery shopping, and adapting to health conditions drives some to seek automated assistance.

Callahan is collecting personal experiences to understand whether A.I. chatbots are helping users eat more healthfully or potentially leading them astray. Her reporting aims to examine the practical applications and limitations of artificial intelligence in nutrition guidance, as more Americans experiment with these tools for their dietary needs.