Tech Companies Push New Health Chatbots, But Experts Advise Caution

Experts say AI chatbots can provide more personalized health info than a Google search, but shouldn't replace professional medical care.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Tech companies like OpenAI and Anthropic are offering new AI chatbots designed to provide health and medical advice, but experts warn that these programs are not a substitute for professional care and users should approach them with caution. While the chatbots can offer more personalized information than a typical online search, they can also provide inaccurate or incomplete advice, and users' personal health data is not protected by medical privacy laws when shared with these AI companies.

Why it matters

As more people turn to chatbots for health information, it's important for the public to understand the limitations and risks of these AI-powered programs. While they may be helpful in some situations, over-reliance on chatbots could lead to missed diagnoses or improper treatment, especially for serious medical conditions. The lack of privacy protections for user health data is also a significant concern.

The details

OpenAI's new ChatGPT Health program and similar offerings from Anthropic allow users to share medical records, wellness app data, and other personal information to get customized health advice. The companies say these large language models aren't meant to replace doctors, but can help summarize test results, prepare for appointments, and analyze health trends. However, independent testing has found that while the chatbots can accurately identify conditions in written scenarios, they often struggle with real-time interactions and providing reliable, comprehensive advice. Experts recommend approaching these tools with 'a degree of healthy skepticism' and never relying on them alone for major medical decisions, as the privacy standards are much lower than for traditional healthcare providers.

  • In January 2026, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Health.
  • A 1,300-participant study by Oxford University was conducted in 2024 to test the capabilities of AI chatbots for health research.

The players

OpenAI

An artificial intelligence research company that has introduced ChatGPT Health, a new version of its popular chatbot designed to provide health and medical advice.

Anthropic

An AI company that offers similar health-focused chatbot features to some users of its Claude chatbot program.

Dr. Robert Wachter

A medical technology expert at the University of California, San Francisco who sees potential benefits in using AI chatbots for health information, but cautions they should not replace professional care.

Dr. Lloyd Minor

The dean of the Stanford University School of Medicine, who advises consumers to approach AI health chatbots with 'a degree of healthy skepticism' and never rely on them alone for major medical decisions.

Adam Mahdi

The lead author of an Oxford University study that found communication problems between people and AI chatbots when discussing hypothetical health conditions.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The alternative often is nothing, or the patient winging it. And so I think that if you use these tools responsibly, I think you can get useful information.”

— Dr. Robert Wachter, medical technology expert (The Associated Press)

“If you're talking about a major medical decision, or even a smaller decision about your health, you should never be relying just on what you're getting out of a large language model.”

— Dr. Lloyd Minor, dean of Stanford's medical school (The Associated Press)

“When someone is uploading their medical chart into a large language model, that is very different than handing it to a new doctor. Consumers need to understand that they're completely different privacy standards.”

— Dr. Lloyd Minor, dean of Stanford's medical school (The Associated Press)

What’s next

As AI chatbots continue to evolve, experts say it will be important for users to stay informed about their capabilities and limitations, as well as the privacy implications of sharing personal health data. Regulatory oversight and further independent testing may also be needed to ensure these tools are providing reliable and safe advice.

The takeaway

While AI-powered health chatbots may offer more personalized information than a typical online search, they should not be seen as a replacement for professional medical care. Users should approach these tools with caution, verify any important health advice, and be aware of the privacy risks involved in sharing sensitive personal data.