Dr. ChatGPT? OpenAI launches ChatGPT Health as millions seek medical advice

OpenAI has launched "ChatGPT Health," a dedicated portal designed to help users manage personal wellness and navigate the healthcare system. The release follows a company report revealing that over 40 million people already use ChatGPT daily for health-related queries, ranging from symptom checking to decoding insurance claims.

This new feature creates a separate, high-stakes space within the ChatGPT interface. Unlike standard chats, ChatGPT Health allows users in the United States to authorise secure access to their electronic health records (EHRs) and wellness apps. Through a strategic partnership with the health data platform b.well Connected Health, users can now link providers, lab results, and wearable data from sources like Apple Health and MyFitnessPal.

OpenAI developed the portal over two years in collaboration with more than 260 physicians. The company emphasises that while the tool can interpret complex data, it is not a diagnostic service. Instead, it serves as a "health ally" to help patients feel more prepared for conversations with their doctors.

"We see people turning to AI when their providers are unavailable, particularly in rural hospital deserts where access is a challenge," OpenAI stated in its announcement. An internal analysis found that 70% of health-related conversations with the chatbot occur outside typical clinical hours, suggesting a high demand for 24/7 medical information.

To address the sensitivity of medical data, OpenAI implemented several specific safeguards for the Health portal. Conversations held within this space are isolated from standard chats and are not used to train the company’s foundation models. The platform uses purpose-built encryption and allows users to revoke data access at any time through their settings.

Users are currently utilising the tool for practical administrative and clinical navigation, including:

• Insurance Assistance: Analysing nearly 2 million weekly queries about plan comparisons, billing disputes, and coverage details.

• Lab Interpretation: Translating technical bloodwork or lipid panels into plain English to generate follow-up questions for clinicians.

• Appointment Prep: Creating summaries of recent symptoms or activity trends to share with specialists during visits.

Despite these advancements, safety concerns remain. Recent peer-reviewed studies found that leading AI models can still produce "hallucinations" or inaccurate medical advice in roughly 13% of high-stakes scenarios. Public Citizen and other privacy advocacy groups have also noted that AI companies are typically not covered by HIPAA, raising questions about long-term data security and meaningful transparency.

ChatGPT Health is currently rolling out to a select group of users on Free, Plus, and Pro plans. While initially limited to users outside the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, and the UK, OpenAI plans to expand access to all web and iOS users in the coming weeks.