OpenAI Introduces ChatGPT Health Feature for Medical Record Management

OpenAI announced ChatGPT Health on January 8, a new feature that lets users connect their medical records and health apps directly to the chatbot. The tool aims to help people better understand and manage their health by combining personal medical data with AI assistance.

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Fidji Simo, CEO of applications at OpenAI, described the launch as part of the company's vision to turn ChatGPT into a "personal super-assistant" that supports users across all areas of life. She pointed to frustrations within the current healthcare system as motivation for creating the tool.

The move comes as AI adoption in healthcare grows rapidly. The American Medical Association reports that physician use of AI nearly doubled between 2023 and 2024, with 68 percent saying it helps them provide better patient care. Meanwhile, an OpenAI-commissioned survey found that three in five American adults used AI tools for health purposes in recent months, with 75 percent finding them very or extremely helpful.

ChatGPT Health operates as a separate, dedicated space within the main ChatGPT platform. All health-related files, conversations, and connected apps are stored apart from regular chats. OpenAI emphasizes that information from ChatGPT Health stays compartmentalized and will not be used to train their AI models. The company has added extra security measures including specialized encryption to protect sensitive medical data.

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Users can connect medical records and wellness apps to make ChatGPT's responses more personalized and relevant to their specific health situations. OpenAI partnered with digital health platform b.well to enable secure connections to medical records from US healthcare providers. The feature was developed with input from physicians to ensure it serves as a practical health management tool.

However, OpenAI stresses important limitations. ChatGPT Health is not designed for diagnosis or treatment and does not replace professional medical care. Instead, it's meant to help users navigate everyday health questions and prepare for medical appointments.

The feature is launching gradually through a waitlist system. Currently, the ability to connect medical records is limited to US users, though OpenAI plans to expand availability in the coming weeks. No specific timeline for international rollout has been announced yet.

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The launch reflects broader trends of AI integration in healthcare, as both patients and doctors increasingly turn to these tools for support in managing complex medical information.