OpenAI Rolls Out ChatGPT Health to All US Users Amid Medical Safety Concerns

OpenAI Expands Health Feature Nationwide

OpenAI announced today that ChatGPT Health, a feature designed to assist users with health-related questions, is now available to all users in the United States aged 18 and older, regardless of their subscription plan. The rollout marks a significant expansion of a tool the company began testing through a dedicated hub earlier in January, when it first allowed users to connect external health services and personal wellness data to their ChatGPT accounts.

The timing of the announcement is particularly noteworthy, arriving just one day after a pastor based in Florida filed a lawsuit against OpenAI. The legal action alleges that ChatGPT provided a near-fatal recommendation, specifically advising the user not to consult a doctor. The case has drawn attention to the risks associated with relying on artificial intelligence for medical guidance.

Since the initial testing phase began, user engagement with health-related queries has grown substantially. OpenAI reported that users were submitting 230 million health-related questions per week when testing first started. That figure has since climbed to 300 million weekly queries, underscoring the growing public demand for AI-assisted health information and the central role ChatGPT is playing in that space.

Broader Integration Across ChatGPT

One of the most significant changes accompanying this wider rollout is that users no longer need to navigate to a separate health hub to access their connected health data. During the testing period, OpenAI discovered that approximately 70% of health-related queries were being submitted outside the dedicated hub. In response to this user behavior, the company has redesigned the feature so that connected health information can inform responses across all types of conversations within ChatGPT.

For example, a user asking about food options or potential allergens in a general chat can now receive responses that take their personal health data into account. The feature supports integration with several popular wellness services, including Apple Health, Function, and MyFitnessPal, allowing users to consolidate their fitness, nutrition, and wellness information in one place.

Beyond consumer wellness apps, users can also connect medical records from major healthcare systems and platforms. Supported integrations include Epic, Oracle Health, One Medical, and Function Health, giving ChatGPT access to a more comprehensive view of a user's medical history and clinical data.

Model Improvements and Benchmark Performance

OpenAI highlighted measurable advancements in its models' ability to handle health-related questions accurately. According to the company, GPT 5.6-Luna, the smallest model from its most recent release, outperforms its predecessor GPT 5.5 on HealthBench. This open-source benchmark, developed by OpenAI itself, is specifically designed to evaluate how well large language models respond to health-related queries.

The company emphasized that it does not use any user data to train its models, addressing a common privacy concern. To further refine the accuracy and safety of health-related responses, OpenAI collaborates with physicians who provide medical expertise and guidance during the development process.

Safety Disclaimers and Industry Context

Despite the reported performance gains, OpenAI's terms of service continue to state explicitly that its services are "not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of any health condition." The company referenced these clauses in its response to the Florida lawsuit and separately told The New York Times that it is actively working to make health- and medicine-related answers safer for users.

With the current rollout, OpenAI encouraged users to independently verify any health information provided by ChatGPT and to make medical decisions based on guidance from qualified healthcare professionals rather than AI-generated responses.

Multiple studies have raised concerns about the reliability of AI chatbots when it comes to medical advice, warning that responses can be inaccurate or misleading. Nevertheless, this has not slowed the broader technology industry's push into health-focused AI tools. Companies including Anthropic and Google have also introduced health-related features in their respective AI products, signaling a competitive trend in the space.

ChatGPT Health is currently rolling out to logged-in users in the United States with free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans. The feature is available on both the web and iOS platforms starting this week.

As artificial intelligence continues to intersect with personal healthcare, the tension between convenience and caution remains a critical conversation. Have you tried using AI tools for health-related questions, or do you have concerns about their reliability in medical contexts? Share this article with your network and join the discussion about the future of AI in health.

Source: TechCrunch AI