OpenAI has rolled out a new ChatGPT feature in the United States that allows users to share medical records and health app data in order to receive more personalised responses to health-related questions. The launch, branded as ChatGPT Health, is already drawing attention from privacy advocates who warn that handling such sensitive information requires extremely strong safeguards.

The company is encouraging users to connect their medical records and data from popular health and fitness apps, including MyFitnessPal, Apple Health and Peloton. This information can then be analysed to provide more tailored insights and guidance. OpenAI has stressed that ChatGPT Health is not designed for diagnosis or treatment, but rather to support users in understanding their health and wellbeing.

To address privacy concerns, OpenAI says that conversations within ChatGPT Health are stored separately from other chats and will not be used to train its AI models. According to the company, the feature includes enhanced privacy protections specifically built for sensitive health data.

Still, campaigners remain cautious. Andrew Crawford from the US non-profit Center for Democracy and Technology said it is “crucial” that health information is protected by airtight safeguards. He pointed out that as AI companies push for deeper personalisation to increase the value of their services, the risks around misuse or exposure of sensitive data also increase, especially as OpenAI explores advertising as part of its business model.

OpenAI claims that more than 230 million people already ask ChatGPT questions about health and wellbeing every week. With ChatGPT Health, users can now upload medical records and integrate data from health apps to receive more relevant and contextual answers to their questions. The company reiterated that the feature is meant to complement medical care, not replace healthcare professionals.

A potential turning point for AI in healthcare

Despite long-standing concerns around generative AI producing confident but inaccurate information, some industry voices see the launch as a major milestone. Max Sinclair, CEO and founder of AI marketing platform Azoma, described ChatGPT Health as a “watershed moment” that could reshape patient care and even influence consumer behaviour around health products.

Sinclair believes OpenAI is positioning ChatGPT as a trusted medical companion, a move that could prove to be a significant competitive advantage as pressure grows from rival AI systems such as Google Gemini.

For now, ChatGPT Health is only available to a small group of early users in the US, with a waitlist open for those who want access. The feature has not launched in the UK, Switzerland, or the European Economic Area, where strict regulations govern how companies process and protect personal health data.

Crawford warned that in the US, some companies operating outside strict health privacy laws may now begin collecting and using health data at scale. Without strong and consistent protections, he said, sensitive personal information could be put at real risk.

As AI continues to move deeper into healthcare, the success of tools like ChatGPT Health may depend not just on their usefulness, but on how convincingly companies can prove that user data remains truly protected.

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