ChatGPT Health: OpenAI’s Privacy-Focused AI for Health Questions

OpenAI has announced the launch of ChatGPT Health, a new dedicated experience designed to support the growing number of people who turn to ChatGPT for health and wellness information. 

According to the company, more than 230 million users globally ask health related questions on the platform every week, making it one of ChatGPT’s most common use cases (TechCrunch; OpenAI). ChatGPT Health aims to centralize these conversations in a separate, protected space, allowing users to explore health topics without mixing sensitive information into their general chat history. When health questions arise outside this space, ChatGPT will encourage users to move the discussion into Health for additional privacy and security.

A key motivation behind ChatGPT Health is the fragmented nature of modern healthcare information. Medical records, test results, wearable data, and insurance details are often scattered across multiple apps and portals, leaving individuals to piece together their own health picture. ChatGPT Health allows users to securely connect wellness apps and medical records, including Apple Health, Function, and MyFitnessPal, so responses can be grounded in personal context rather than generic advice (OpenAI). For example, users can ask for help understanding recent test results, preparing questions for a doctor’s appointment, or evaluating diet and exercise patterns over time. While Health conversations are isolated, the system may still reference relevant context from standard chats, such as recognizing that a user is a runner when discussing fitness goals (TechCrunch).

OpenAI emphasizes that privacy is central to the design of ChatGPT Health. The Health experience includes layered protections beyond standard ChatGPT conversations, such as purpose built encryption and strict isolation of health data. Importantly, OpenAI states that conversations within ChatGPT Health will not be used to train its foundation models (OpenAI). This separation is intended to give users more confidence when discussing sensitive topics. Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, has framed the product as a response to systemic challenges in healthcare, including rising costs, limited access, overbooked clinicians, and a lack of continuity in care, positioning ChatGPT Health as a tool to help people feel more informed and prepared rather than overwhelmed (TechCrunch; Yahoo).

Despite these ambitions, OpenAI is careful to outline the limits of the technology. ChatGPT Health is not intended to diagnose or treat medical conditions, a point clearly stated in OpenAI’s terms of service and reiterated across announcements (TechCrunch; OpenAI). Large language models like ChatGPT generate responses based on probabilities, not verified truth, and they can produce incorrect or hallucinated information. These risks are particularly significant in healthcare, where inaccurate guidance can have serious consequences. As a result, ChatGPT Health is positioned as a support tool that complements, rather than replaces, professional medical care.

Access to ChatGPT Health will roll out gradually. OpenAI is initially providing access to a small group of users on Free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans outside of the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, with broader availability planned for web and iOS in the coming weeks (OpenAI). Some integrations, including medical records and certain wellness apps, are currently limited to the United States, and Apple Health connectivity requires iOS. As OpenAI continues refining the experience, ChatGPT Health reflects both the growing reliance on AI for everyday health questions and the company’s attempt to balance usefulness, privacy, and responsibility in a highly sensitive domain.

This article was written by the Covertly.AI team. Covertly.AI is a secure, anonymous AI chat that protects your privacy. Connect to advanced AI models without tracking, logging, or exposure of your data. Whether you’re an individual who values privacy or a business seeking enterprise-grade data protection, Covertly.AI helps you stay secure and anonymous when using AI. With Covertly.AI, you get seamless access to all popular large language models - without compromising your identity or data privacy.

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Works Cited

OpenAI. “Introducing ChatGPT Health.” OpenAI, 7 Jan. 2026, https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-health/.

Perez, Sarah. “OpenAI Unveils ChatGPT Health, Says 230 Million Users Ask About Health Each Week.” TechCrunch, 7 Jan. 2026, https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/07/openai-unveils-chatgpt-health-says-230-million-users-ask-about-health-each-week/.

Yahoo Tech. “OpenAI Unveils ChatGPT Health, Says 230 Million Users Ask About Health Each Week.” Yahoo Tech, 7 Jan. 2026, https://tech.yahoo.com/ai/chatgpt/articles/openai-unveils-chatgpt-health-says-210823524.html.

BBC News. “AI Chatbots Often Produce Inaccurate News Summaries, BBC Study Finds.” BBC News, Date Unknown, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgv38py7ewo.