New AI Tool Designed to Provide Personalized Health Advice
Taking control of your health could become easier, faster, and more affordable, thanks to the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI). However, experts are warning that a new digital tool should not be used as a substitute for medical advice from trained professionals. Here is how a new product from ChatGPT could revolutionize how people research health-related issues.
OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Health Tool
OpenAI revealed a new product that it is calling a "healthcare ally." ChatGPT Health will be a tab located within ChatGPT, engineered to provide a more secure and personalized environment for queries related to health issues. The tool will also feature a separate chat history and memory feature, making it unique to the rest of the ChatGPT platform.
The engineers of ChatGPT Health are encouraging users to use the feature to connect wellness apps and personal medical records with the tool in order to receive more personalized responses to questions. For example, users can link personal medical records so that the tool can provide feedback on lab results and clinical history. Apps such as Apple Health, MyFitness Pal, and Weight Watchers can be connected to ChatGPT Health to provide more insight into personal health questions. The connectivity will also give users a centralized place to store and access personal health data across a variety of verticals.
OpenAI detailed that it has partnered with b.well to provide back-end integration for medical records. b.well works with approximately 2.2 million providers, giving it a large reach to access records. ChatGPT Health is currently requiring users to sign up on a waitlist to request this access as it rolls out the product.
According to the product's developers, ChatGPT Health is “not intended for diagnosis or treatment.” The company noted that they field almost 600,000 health-related messages per week in underserved rural communities, demonstrating a need for information in parts of the country where healthcare is not as accessible. Roughly 70% of these conversations in ChatGPT take place outside of normal clinic hours.
While the use of ChatGPT to assist people with health issues could be beneficial to many, there are also risks associated with this tool. False advice not coming from humans poses a danger to those who solely rely on AI to diagnose and treat health conditions.
OpenAI noted in a recent blog post that its analysis revealed that over 230 million people already lean on ChatGPT for questions regarding health and wellness each week on a global scale. The company also said that it has spent the last two years consulting with over 260 physicians to provide feedback on its models in over 30 precise areas of focus in order to help guide the tool's responses. OpenAI said its product can help users interpret test results, prepare for medical appointments, and get advice on basic diet and exercise guidelines. The tool can also help users to understand their health insurance options based on healthcare patterns, according to OpenAI.
Applications to Mental Health and Security Concerns
OpenAI did not mention any applications for mental health in its comprehensive blog post. Instead, the company simply said that users can customize their experience to "avoid mentioning sensitive topics."
However, OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, Fidji Simo, said in a Wednesday press conference that the new tool can be used to access information about all aspects of an individual's health, including mental health. Simo said that the company is focused on ensuring that the tool responds appropriately when people are in distress. The CEO also said that his team has taken care to make sure that the model is informative without being alarmist, directing people to seek professional care when needed.
When asked about security concerns, OpenAI leaders said its new tool operates as a "separate space with enhanced privacy to protect sensitive data.” The company confirmed that it has included multiple layers of purpose-built encryption to make it more secure. The informational blog post said that ChatGPT will automatically direct a user to its dedicated health product in order to provide more security.
Lastly, ChatGPT Health is not required to be compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This is because HIPAA does not apply to consumer products as it does to the clinical or professional healthcare arena.
It is too early to tell how ChatGPT Health may change how people source medical advice. However, it is clear that AI continues to creep into nearly every aspect of everyday life.
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