OpenAI is exploring developing consumer health products as it extends beyond basic AI

OpenAI is considering developing consumer health products, including a personal health assistant powered by generative AI, as the creator of ChatGPT seeks to diversify its core offering, Business Insider reported Monday, citing sources close to the company.

OpenAI’s push into the healthcare sector follows strategic hires, such as Nate Gross, co-founder of the medical network Doximity, as head of healthcare strategy in June, and Ashley Alexander, a former Instagram executive, as vice president of healthcare products in August.

At the HLTH conference in October, Gross revealed that ChatGPT has over 800 million weekly active users, many of whom are seeking medical assistance.

With varying degrees of success, tech behemoths like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft have long attempted to grant consumers control over their medical data.

Google shut down its medical records service in 2011 due to weak acceptance, while Amazon dissolved its Halo fitness tracker business in 2023. Microsoft’s HealthVault product likewise failed to acquire widespread adoption.