AI is changing health: Here's what you should know

A growing number of medical professionals and consumers alike are now leaning on AI to manage health in new ways, and tech companies are competing to meet the demand. AI health products can generate patient visit notes for physicians and help consumers learn insights about their health at home. Even with all the possible upsides, experts recommend caution, particularly for consumers who share sensitive medical and personal information with an AI-powered device or chatbot, or buy into AI health offerings that haven't yet been proven as effective or safe. With the January launch of ChatGPT Health, a sister experience to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the public has a new option for seeking medical guidance. ChatGPT Health, like Claude for Healthcare and Microsoft Copilot Health, allows users to upload medical records and data from wellness apps to AI assistants, ostensibly providing more accurate guidance. The fact that ChatGPT Health is free (for now) may prove enticing to some of the 25 million uninsured Americans or those worried about medical debt — Americans currently owe over $220 billion to healthcare providers. And many are already turning to AI-powered sources. A KFF health tracking poll