OpenAI has introduced a new ChatGPT feature in the United States that allows users to share medical records and data from apps like MyFitnessPal, Apple Health, and Peloton to receive more personalised responses. The tool, called ChatGPT Health, is designed to provide guidance and information to support users’ health questions, but campaigners warn it raises serious privacy issues.
OpenAI said conversations within ChatGPT Health would be stored separately from other chats and would not be used to train its AI models. The company stressed that the feature is not intended for diagnosis or treatment and is meant to “support, not replace, medical care.”
The launch comes as millions of people already use ChatGPT for health-related queries. OpenAI estimates that more than 230 million users ask the chatbot questions about their wellbeing each week. The company said ChatGPT Health includes “enhanced privacy to protect sensitive data” and allows users to link personal health apps and upload medical records to improve the relevance of responses.
Andrew Crawford, of the US non-profit Center for Democracy and Technology, said it is “crucial” to maintain strict safeguards around users’ health information. He warned that as AI companies explore monetisation strategies, including advertising, it is vital that personal health data remain separate from other interactions within the platform.
“Health data is some of the most sensitive information people can share and it must be protected,” Crawford said. He added that companies collecting and using such data without clear safeguards could put users at risk.
Generative AI chatbots can produce false or misleading information, sometimes presenting it in a convincing way. Despite this, OpenAI is positioning ChatGPT Health as a “trusted medical adviser.” Max Sinclair, chief executive of AI marketing platform Azoma, described the launch as a “watershed moment” that could reshape patient care and even influence consumer behaviour. He said the feature could be a “game-changer” for OpenAI, particularly as competition from rival chatbots such as Google’s Gemini increases.
ChatGPT Health is initially being made available to a small group of early users in the US, with a waitlist open for those seeking access. The feature has not yet been introduced in the UK, Switzerland, or the European Economic Area, where stricter privacy rules apply.
Crawford noted that the launch highlights the risks of health data being handled by firms not subject to stringent privacy protections. “Since it’s up to each company to set the rules for how health data is collected, used, shared, and stored, inadequate protections can put sensitive health information in real danger,” he said.
OpenAI’s move reflects a broader trend of AI companies seeking to personalise services, but it has drawn scrutiny from privacy experts who emphasise the importance of strong safeguards to protect users’ most sensitive information.
