The Impact of Demographic Factors on Adults’ Use of Artificial Intelligence for Seeking Nutritional Health Information in Saudi Arabia

Background: Driven by Saudi Vision 2030 and widespread internet access, artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used for nutritional guidance in Saudi Arabia. Despite benefits such as personalized dietary advice, challenges remain, and usage patterns vary across sociodemographic groups. This study investigates the effect of sociodemographic factors on the use of AI for obtaining nutritional health information among adults residing in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 446 adult participants aged 18–64 years residing in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected via an online questionnaire from December 2025 and March 2026, covering sociodemographic characteristics, AI use, attitudes, and practices related to nutritional health information. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests and multivariable linear and logistic regression. Results: A total of 380 participants were AI users for nutritional health information, with ChatGPT identified as the most commonly used tool. AI use was significantly higher among females, younger adults, single individuals, and those without chronic disease (p < 0.05 for all). After adjustment for demographic confounders, age remained the only independent predictor of frequent AI use, with significantly lower odds observed among adults aged 41 and older (p < 0.05). Attitude scores were the strongest independent predictor of nutritional practice (adjusted β = 5.32 per standard-deviation increase, p < 0.001), outweighing sociodemographic factors once entered jointly. Reliance on AI was also significantly associated with nutritional practice scores, including reduced dietitian visits for minor issues (p = 0.0002), acceptance of AI-based diagnostic suggestions (p = 0.0002), and improved dietary decision-making (p = 0.0164). Conclusions: AI use for nutritional information is common among a predominantly young, female, single, urban (Central-region), and highly educated sample of Saudi adults, and is shaped more by attitudinal beliefs than by demographic characteristics alone. AI is mainly used for information support rather than final health decisions, serving as a complementary tool in nutrition care.