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CHAT-PCP

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.

Millie Giles

1/9/26 5:57AM

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.

Jon Keegan19h

OpenAI reportedly delaying erotica feature to focus on “gains in intelligence”

OpenAI is delaying its planned “adult mode,” as it seeks to shore up ChatGPT’s core capabilities before the chatbot can generate erotic content.

A source within OpenAI told tech news site Sources that the company will miss its Q1 target for launching the feature:

“We’re pushing out the launch of adult mode so we can focus on work that is a higher priority for more users right now, including gains in intelligence, personality improvements, personalization, and making the experience more proactive.”

The company said it still believes in “treating adults like adults,” but said it wants to get the experience right. OpenAI has been testing user age estimation technology ahead of the planned release.

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“We’re pushing out the launch of adult mode so we can focus on work that is a higher priority for more users right now, including gains in intelligence, personality improvements, personalization, and making the experience more proactive.”

Rani Molla

22h

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Anthropic will sue the Pentagon over supply chain risk designation, Amodei says

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said in a public post that the company will sue the Pentagon after receiving a letter from the Department of Defense officially designating Anthropic as “a supply chain risk to America’s national security.”

Amodei says that the effect of the unprecedented designation for an American company is more narrow than originally described, and that most of its customers would not be affected.

“With respect to our customers, it plainly applies only to the use of Claude by customers as a direct part of contracts with the Department of War, not all use of Claude by customers who have such contracts.”

Amodei says the company does not “believe this action is legally sound, and we see no choice but to challenge it in court.”

The CEO also apologized for statements he made in a leaked internal memo in which he claimed that the company was targeted because it didn’t show “dictator-style praise” for President Trump.

Where things stand with the Department of War

“With respect to our customers, it plainly applies only to the use of Claude by customers as a direct part of contracts with the Department of War, not all use of Claude by customers who have such contracts.”

Amodei says the company does not “believe this action is legally sound, and we see no choice but to challenge it in court.”

The CEO also apologized for statements he made in a leaked internal memo in which he claimed that the company was targeted because it didn’t show “dictator-style praise” for President Trump.

$40B💰

Rani Molla3/6/26

SoftBank is going to great lengths to double down on OpenAI — including taking on significant debt. After completing a $40 billion investment to become one of the ChatGPT maker’s largest backers, the Japanese conglomerate is now seeking a roughly $40 billion loan with a 12-month term, Bloomberg reports.

The financing would be SoftBank’s largest-ever dollar-denominated deal. The AI investment has helped lift profits, but it is also pressuring SoftBank’s credit profile.