Millions of people globally are turning to artificial intelligence chatbots for health advice, with companies like OpenAI and Anthropic pushing deeper into the health care space. The recent introduction of ChatGPT Health and the acquisition of Torch by OpenAI, coupled with Anthropic’s launch of Claude for Healthcare, underscore growing efforts to meet popular demand for accessible health guidance. Yet some users remain cautious, as the convenience and speed of these technologies come hand-in-hand with questions over accuracy, reliability, and privacy of sensitive medical information. As investors anticipate the spread of digital health tools, healthcare professionals and observers voice the need for scrutiny in both the technology and the intentions of the organizations involved.
When OpenAI originally launched ChatGPT, its focus remained on general topics rather than dedicated healthcare. However, as the public’s appetite for personalized medical information grows, other tech companies such as Google and xAI have entered similar territory, often triggering debates about misinformation and data use. Analysis of public reactions reveals continued skepticism regarding chatbots’ ability to distinguish between serious and mild symptoms, as well as unresolved concerns about the exploitation of private health data for commercial gains.
Health Chatbots Gain Momentum but Raise Concerns
The popularity of platforms such as ChatGPT Health and Claude for Healthcare illustrates significant interest in digital health accessibility, especially as rising costs and provider shortages shape patient behavior worldwide. These tools promise information democratization, but critics highlight persistent shortcomings in large language models’ medical expertise. Dr. Saurabh Gombar, a practicing clinician and co-founder at Atropos Health, emphasizes the stakes:
“What I am worried about as a clinician is that there is still a high level of hallucinations and erroneous information that sometimes makes it out of these general-purpose LLMs to the end user.”
His concerns reflect broader anxieties regarding the accuracy and clinical appropriateness of chatbot recommendations.
How Are Physicians’ Roles Shifting in the AI Era?
As AI-driven advice becomes more widely available, some experts anticipate major changes in the doctor-patient relationship. In the United States, the primary care workforce continues to shrink, particularly in rural communities. Dr. Gombar notes that patients may increasingly seek expert confirmation from physicians after interacting with chatbots rather than relying on human intervention first:
“If the whole world is moving away from going to physicians first, then physicians are going to be utilized more as an expert second opinion, as opposed to the primary opinion.”
This potential shift prompts debate over the implications for medical accountability and patient trust.
Will Data Privacy Keep Pace with AI’s Expansion?
Despite company assurances about compliance with health privacy regulations like HIPAA, questions linger about the true security and intended use of sensitive health data collected by AI chatbots. Alexander Tsiaras, CEO of StoryMD, voices a common apprehension: can users trust companies with their deepest personal information beyond technical protections? Incidents involving other chatbot platforms—such as xAI’s Grok or widely used wellness apps—further intensify scrutiny around consent, potential misuse, and transparency. Stakeholders agree that clear boundaries are necessary as profit-driven personalization strategies intersect with the need to maintain user confidentiality.
The emergence of dedicated AI health tools carries both opportunities and new risks for patients, clinicians, and the broader health system. Past industry efforts demonstrated the ease of scaling information access but struggled to reliably safeguard user interests or consistently deliver clinically actionable advice. Enhanced oversight, clearer communication of AI limitations, and prioritization of privacy could help bridge these gaps. Users considering digital health tools are encouraged to verify information with licensed professionals and remain informed about how their data might be used. As AI’s role expands in health care, fostering trust, accuracy, and fairness remains as critical as the technology itself.
