ChatGPT is now giving users custom health advice

ChatGPT is ready to move beyond planning a vacation around that one restaurant you saw on TikTok, and into analyzing your bloodwork and exercise routine.

OpenAI rolled out ChatGPT Health across the US late last week, giving its chatbot a front-row seat to users’ step counts, sleep schedules, and lab results for those who opt in.

Dr. Chat will see you now

ChatGPT Health is a dedicated tab within the chatbot’s UI that allows users to submit a range of medical data to receive personalized answers to questions about their health.

• Users can choose to import data from health apps like Apple Health, MyFitnessPal, and Weight Watchers, or choose to upload official medical records to ChatGPT through back-end integration with a digital health platform.
• OpenAI says the new Health tab contains extra safeguards, including additional encryption protections, and will always check in with users before taking action in a connected plugin.

Unlike your doctor, ChatGPT won’t actually be diagnosing anything—or raising an eyebrow when you mumble that you haven’t had a salad in a few weeks. OpenAI says the tool is strictly a supplement, not a substitute, for IRL medical care, and it's up to each user’s discretion to interpret the bot’s advice.

Side effects may include loss of privacy

Some medical experts warn of privacy concerns associated with sharing sensitive personal information. They suggest users should assume any information provided to ChatGPT or other chatbots is no longer private, as AI companies aren’t governed by HIPAA or any federal regulatory body when it comes to health information.

Experts also note the risk of receiving incorrect information from AI chatbots, which studies show are designed to prioritize being helpful over medical accuracy, and to always respond with an answer.