OpenAI launches Health feature in ChatGPT for uploading medical records

OpenAI announced a new Health feature within ChatGPT that allows users to upload medical records such as lab results and medication lists, and to link Apple Health for access to fitness and health data. The company said the tool can, with user permission, compare new test results with prior ones, summarize changes since a last appointment, and relate sleep or activity patterns to a user’s routine.

OpenAI estimates that about 300 million people ask health-related questions on ChatGPT each week. Cornell Tech’s chief of health innovation, Tanzeem Choudhury, said the high volume reflects broader challenges in the U.S. health system, adding that AI could help democratize care if proper safeguards are in place.

Experts cautioned that AI chatbots can produce inaccurate or dangerous advice. A recent lawsuit alleges that ChatGPT’s guidance contributed to a pulmonary embolism, and a prior incident involved a teenager who followed a harmful recommendation. An OpenAI spokesperson emphasized that “ChatGPT is not a doctor and should never be used as a substitute for medical care, diagnosis or treatment.”

The new feature includes additional encryption and prompts before the system takes actions such as sending emails. OpenAI said that data uploaded to Health will not be used to train its models or for advertising. However, Columbia University professor Vishal Misra warned that sharing personal health information with a chatbot carries the same privacy risks as any other data sharing.

Both Choudhury and Misra stressed that users must decide when to seek professional medical help and should not rely on the chatbot as a replacement for a physician. Misra noted that, when used carefully, the tool could help users track health trends and provide physicians with a more complete view of a patient’s condition, but any advice should be confirmed with a qualified health professional.