AI-driven salt substitution case highlights need for safe health guidance in Thailand’s sodium-reduction push
A new clinical case underscores the dangers of following unvetted AI health advice. A 60-year-old man in Thailand developed bromism after replacing table salt with industrial sodium bromide based on information he claimed to obtain from an AI chatbot. Reported in medical literature, the case raises urgent questions about AI safety in consumer health guidance as Thailand scales up its national salt-reduction efforts to combat hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Investigators documented that the patient mistook a chemical used for cleaning and pool maintenance for a safe dietary substitute, leading to severe psychosis and a prolonged hospital stay. Media coverage and expert commentary note the broader implications for AI governance in health information and highlight safer pathways for sodium reduction.