Medical students learning at universities and a hospital have been practising talking to patients using artificial intelligence (AI).
Dr Chris Jacobs, a GP at Merchiston Surgery in Swindon, has been using AI with his students at Great Western Hospital as well as the University of Bristol and the University of Bath.
Students are presented with a database of options and can then talk to and get responses from an AI patient with realistic faces and voices.
"If we can create more competent communicators we'll hopefully have happier patients and happier doctors," Jacobs said.
He said students often have to practise with each other or book days with actors, but AI adds to what they can use and also means students can learn more at home.
