OpenAI says 40 million people use ChatGPT for healthcare every day (www.techradar.com)

OpenAI has reported that 40 million people use ChatGPT daily for health-related inquiries, with 200 million users engaging with health topics weekly. This statistic highlights the growing role of AI in healthcare, as individuals increasingly seek assistance with symptoms, medications, and navigating health systems—tasks that traditionally relied on human medical expertise. OpenAI positions ChatGPT as a "healthcare ally," reflecting a shift in how users look for medical information, with over five percent of all prompts now centered on health issues. The significance of this development lies in its potential to change healthcare access and information dissemination, especially after hours when professional help is not readily available. While the report emphasizes AI's utility in organizing complex medical information and providing timely guidance, it also raises concerns about the reliability of AI-generated health advice. OpenAI acknowledges the risks, as AI tools lack comprehensive patient histories and can produce inaccurate information. Despite this, the widespread adoption of ChatGPT for health-related inquiries signals a notable transformation in how people approach their health—a trend that could redefine patient-doctor interactions and the future of health information accessibility.