Poison centre calls surge as callers cite AI advice

Calls to Sweden’s Poison Information Centre have risen sharply, with some callers saying AI services told them to seek help, SVT reports. The centre says the increase does not appear to mean more people are suffering serious poisonings.

The centre’s emergency line is receiving about 100 more calls a day. By mid-October, it had answered more than 100,000 calls in 2026, and the trend has not shown signs of reversing.

“We are concerned that it is taking longer for patients who really need help to get through,” said Johanna Nordmark Grass, the centre’s medical lead.

It is too early to say for certain what is driving the increase. But the centre says AI advice may be causing unnecessary worry. Callers have said they asked an AI service and were told their situation could still be dangerous, prompting them to call for reassurance.

To ease the pressure from non-urgent incidents, the Swedish Medical Products Agency has published examples of situations where the risk of serious poisoning is usually low. These include swallowing a small taste of any mushroom, eating up to five red berries, or a child tasting snus without developing symptoms. The guidance also says that touching a poisonous plant and then putting fingers in the mouth, drinking up to a sip of hand sanitiser, or taking a single extra dose of some medicines is rarely dangerous.

The examples apply only when the incident is not connected to misuse or self-harm. The Poison Information Centre advises people who are not dealing with an emergency to check its website for guidance before calling. It says people should still call if they need help.