American patients are increasingly turning to AI for medical advice — so are their doctors
As OpenAI announces the launch of ChatGPT Health, it seems everyday Americans and professional physicians alike are already using the tech to help with healthcare.
With the world weighing up the pitfalls of giving AI access to sensitive personal data, OpenAI just unveiled a service where people can upload medical records directly to its chatbot.
On Wednesday, the company announced the launch of ChatGPT Health, described as a “dedicated experience” for health information that will live as a tab within ChatGPT. According to a report from OpenAI, more than 40 million people globally already ask ChatGPT health-related questions every single day, equating to about 5% of all messages on the platform.
Chat, what are my treatment options?
The service, designed to help people “feel more informed, prepared, and confident navigating [their] health,” allows users in the US to connect medical records and data from apps and wearable devices to ChatGPT.
OpenAI underscored that Health is built with additional, layered protections for user information, including “purpose-built encryption.” It also emphasized that the service is “not intended for diagnosis or treatment,” and should instead be used to “support” existing medical care.
But it seems that AI is already being used to support medical professionals, even more directly. A study conducted by the American Medical Association in November 2024, published last February, found that two-thirds of American physicians reported using health AI at least once in 2024, up from 38% in 2023.
Just what the doctor prompted
While many medical professionals said they were already using the tech for documentation purposes and translation services, a significant proportion also reported using AI for help with treatment, including surgery guidance (30%), prediction of health risks (25%), health recommendations (21%), and triage support (20%).
Interestingly, the AMA found 30% of US physicians said they used AI to assist with diagnoses — the same thing that many turn to ChatGPT for, with OpenAI’s report finding that 55% of US adults used AI tools to “check or explore symptoms” in the three months prior to the survey.
