Is a new era of AI healthcare beginning? OpenAI launches ChatGPT Health function to provide interpretation of physical examination results, diet and exercise guidance

The Zhitong Finance App learned that OpenAI has introduced a new feature in its chatbot ChatGPT, which will allow users to analyze medical examination results, prepare for medical treatment, and seek guidance on diet and exercise plans. This marks the company's biggest advance in healthcare to date. A new feature called ChatGPT Health launched Wednesday is designed to help provide useful health and fitness information, but it won't make an official diagnosis. OpenAI said the new feature can connect users' electronic medical records, wearable devices, and health apps, such as Apple Health and MyFitnessPal. In the early stages, OpenAI will allow users to sign up for a waitlist to try out the product. The company plans to make it more widely accessible in the coming weeks.

More and more technology companies are targeting the lucrative healthcare market, betting that advances in artificial intelligence can help analyze patterns in users' health data to provide personalized medical advice. But these steps have also raised concerns about the privacy and security risks associated with AI services processing more sensitive personal data and providing advice on higher-risk health issues.

According to OpenAI, more than 200 million people are currently asking ChatGPT questions about health and wellness every week. The company said they have also consulted more than 260 doctors in the past two years to refine the health features of their AI technology. Additionally, the company plans to partially isolate health conversations from other apps and add enhanced privacy features.

The OpenAI team emphasized that the service was designed to complement rather than replace doctors' judgement. Fergie Simo, CEO of OpenAI's applications division, said on Wednesday: “Doctors don't have enough time and energy. They can't spend a lot of time getting to know everything about you, and they don't have time to explain the situation in a way you can understand. At the same time, when you look at artificial intelligence, it's completely exempt from these restrictions.”