ChatGPT Health is OpenAI's new feature launched January 7, 2026, allowing users to connect medical records and wellness apps to AI. Over 230 million people ask ChatGPT health questions weekly. In the UK, 59% already use AI for self-diagnosis, but only 11% report significant help. The UK and Europe are excluded from launch due to stricter data regulations.
What Is ChatGPT Health?
On January 7, 2026, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Health—a dedicated space within ChatGPT where users can connect their medical records and wellness apps. Through a partnership with b.well, users can now link Apple Health, MyFitnessPal, Weight Watchers, and even direct medical records to get personalized health responses.
The feature was developed with input from more than 260 physicians across 60 countries over two years, who provided over 600,000 feedback instances on model outputs.
The Reality Check: Does AI Health Advice Work?
A Confused.com study of 2,000 UK respondents reveals a stark disconnect. While 59% of Brits now use AI services like ChatGPT for self-diagnosis, only 11% claim it helped significantly. Symptom checks top the list at 63%, followed by medication side effects (50%) and treatment options (30%).
The generational gap is dramatic: 85% of 18-24 year-olds regularly search for health issues via AI, compared to just 35% of those over 65.
"More than 230 million people globally ask health and wellness questions each week, according to OpenAI's de-identified analysis of user conversations."— OpenAI
UK and Europe Excluded from Launch
In a notable irony, users in the UK, European Economic Area, and Switzerland are excluded from the initial rollout—despite being the most studied market for AI health behavior. OpenAI cites "more robust local health and data regulations" as the reason.
Medical record integrations and some wellness app connections are currently only available in the United States.
Privacy Concerns
OpenAI states that ChatGPT Health conversations will not be used to train its foundation models, and all health data is stored separately from regular chats. However, privacy advocates note that connecting medical records to any AI system carries inherent risks.
The company emphasizes ChatGPT Health is "not intended for diagnosis and treatment" and should not replace professional medical care—a warning that 59% of UK users appear to be ignoring.