Most service providers aren’t trend setters. There may be one pathfinder that “runs it up the flagpole to see if anyone salutes”, but when more than one for-profit corporation is offering a similar (or identical) service that competes with the “new” model, you can be pretty sure that many people rose up to salute and cheer, and the new offering is riding on the back of a swell in public interest. Perhaps the most significant “new thing” in the wonderful world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the burst of offerings of AI-powered healthcare platforms, that offer people access to expert medical advice, with sophisticated analysis of reports, laboratory results, symptoms, and the wealth of other information that people used to share in face-to-face consultation with trained and qualified healthcare providers.
There are two main streams in AI healthcare:
- Clinical diagnostic decision support tools for healthcare professionals has been around for a year or so, focuses on specific areas, like:
- Ada Health specializes in clinical symptom triage and assessment. It uses a massive, continuously updated medical database to provide personalized health checks and is CE-certified as a.
- Infermedic offers AI-driven symptom checker tools that focus on medical triage and triage API, often integrated into hospital platforms. It is known for matching doctors in primary care benchmarking.
- Hippocratic AI focuses on non-diagnostic tasks like patient outreach, education, and chronic care management.
- Abridge can sit-in on live patient-doctor consultations, create structured notes, and draft them into a patient record system (EHR).
- Suki AI incorporates speech recognition with a medically-trained AI engine to reduce documentation time for clinicians.
- GenHealth.ai is trained on millions of patient records to predict patient outcomes and model clinical options for doctors to choose from.
- Public platforms offering “consultations” with AI-driven bots:
- First off the rank was DrChatGpt, which responds to user-input describing their symptoms, and provides diagnosis, suggests treatments and preventative measures. Even in this case of a “trailblazer”, OpenAI wasn’t really going out into the wild unknown when it spun out the specific AI-healthcare bot. Each week, nearly a quarter-of-a-billion users of the standard ChatGPT platform had asked questions about their symptoms, or about suggested remedies. DrChatGpt was a business decision where the company could see an opening where it could beat its growing opposition.
- Claude for Healthcare was launched this year by Anthropic (Google’s parent). They claim that it is designed to handle sensitive medical data responsibly using “Constitutional AI”.
- Tech companies like Meta, xAI/Grok, and others have either recently announced their own entries, or already started advertising a competing offering.
This article is going to examine the main aspects of the second group, to try and pin down the issues that are already surfacing, dealing with reliability, security, data safety and other non-medical subjects. It is important to state clearly that AI platforms are not a replacement for trained healthcare professionals. No medical decisions should ever be made without consulting a qualified provider. We can’t comment on the validity of any advice coming out of these or any other AI-driven engines, but in any case, a cautionary word seems to be appropriate – don’t take any steps without first consulting with a trained and trusted healthcare provider!
Why so many people are asking AI for health advice
The reality is that people were already searching the internet for health information long before AI tools appeared. Symptoms, medications, side effects, and lab results have always driven online searches. What has changed is how that information is delivered.
AI feels appealing because it is:
- Fast and available at any hour
- Free or low-cost compared with clinical visits
- Capable of responding in plain language
- Perceived as more personal than search results
Platforms like ChatGPT Health feel conversational and supportive, which can create a sense of reassurance. That emotional comfort is powerful, but convenience should not be confused with care. AI systems do not examine patients, do not have clinical accountability, and cannot see the full medical picture.
What ChatGPT’s new health platforms promise
Newer AI health tools often describe features designed to increase trust and safety. These include:
- Separate, encrypted health-related conversations
- The ability to connect health apps or records
- Clear statements about limits and disclaimers
- Claims of improved privacy handling
Most platforms are careful to say they do not provide diagnoses or treatment plans. Even so, the way answers are written can still influence decisions. This is especially true when users lack medical training and may misunderstand probabilities, risks, or context.
Where the differences really lie
AI can feel like a shortcut, but in healthcare the easiest path is not always the safest one. Several risks are already becoming clear:
- People may trust AI output more than they should
- Answers can be incomplete or wrong
- Context matters more than AI can detect
- Medical nuance is often lost in summaries
Even platforms offering AI medical advice usually state that answers may be inaccurate. Without training, users may still act on those answers in ways that create harm. AI cannot replace clinical judgment, experience, or accountability.
Privacy issues should not be downplayed
Health data is among the most sensitive personal information that exists. Many people assume that anything health-related is protected by federal law, but that is not always true. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) applies mainly to healthcare providers and insurers, not to most consumer technology platforms.
This means many AI health tools are not covered by HIPAA at all. As a result, data privacy protections can vary widely depending on where a person lives and which platform is used.
State laws are starting to fill some of these gaps. States like California, Washington and New York have introduced stronger rules that give people more control over how their health data is collected, stored, and shared. These laws often require clear opt-in consent and allow users to request deletion of their data.
Even with these protections, AI data is often processed, analyzed, and stored across multiple systems. Once data is shared, control becomes limited. This raises ongoing concerns about long-term health data protection, especially as AI models evolve.
It’s not all negative. Proper use of AI can bring real benefits
When used carefully, AI tools can support understanding rather than replace care. Common helpful uses include:
- Explaining medical terms in simple language
- Helping prepare questions for a doctor or pharmacist
- Learning general information about conditions
- Comparing options at a high level
AI should not replace:
- Diagnosis
- Treatment decisions
- Medication changes
- Emergency care
Used within clear boundaries, AI can support learning while avoiding medical misinformation.
Guidelines to a smarter way of using AI for health decisions
A balanced approach helps reduce risk while preserving benefit. Safer use includes:
- Using AI as a starting point, not a final answer
- Verifying information with licensed professionals
- Avoiding unnecessary sharing of personal health data
- Focusing on questions, not self-treatment
This approach respects the limits of technology while keeping people informed.
Keeping tabs on cost
Spiralling medication costs are becoming a major issue in healthcare. Nearly one-third of all prescriptions issued in the U.S. are either not filled, or use is discontinued, and the main driving force behind this is primarily the unaffordable costs, especially when it comes to drugs needed to treat chronic conditions, which may have to be bought over and over. One of AI’s main powers is its ability to collect information from a wide variety of sources, and to analyze and collate all of the facts and present the user with a simple and easy-to-understand summary.
Using AI to find out what the options are when buying from local sources makes it easy to then turn to an alternative cross-border pharmacy option like IsraelPharm, which can be a source of the same brands and generics as are available in the U.S., but often at substantially lower prices.
AI can help people understand choices around medication costs, but decisions should always be confirmed with qualified healthcare providers.
Takeaway: careful use of AI healthcare can help, but caution matters
AI health tools are here to stay. They can help people feel more informed, more prepared, and less overwhelmed. But they should never replace professional care.
Patients deserve clear information, real options, and safe alternatives. Awareness and caution matter more than new tools, especially when personal health and privacy are involved.
Frequently asked questions about AI health platforms
Is AI health advice safe to use?
AI health advice can be useful for learning and general understanding, but it is not medical care. These systems do not examine patients, review full histories, or take responsibility for outcomes. They may provide incomplete or inaccurate information. For this reason, AI should only be used as a support tool. Any health concerns or decisions should always be discussed with a qualified healthcare provider who can evaluate the full situation.
How does data privacy work with AI health tools?
Data privacy varies widely between platforms. Many AI health tools are not covered by HIPAA, meaning health data may not have the same protections as medical records. Some states have introduced stronger privacy laws, but protections still depend on location and platform policies. People should assume that data shared with AI may be stored, processed, or analyzed beyond their direct control.
Can AI replace a doctor or pharmacist?
AI cannot replace trained healthcare professionals. It does not have clinical judgment, hands-on assessment, or accountability. While AI can explain information or help organize questions, diagnosis and treatment decisions require human expertise. Relying on AI alone can increase risk, especially for complex or urgent health issues.
Does ChatGPT Health follow HIPAA rules?
Most consumer AI platforms are not HIPAA-compliant because they are not healthcare providers or insurers. This means health conversations may not receive the same legal protections as medical records. Users should review privacy policies carefully and avoid sharing sensitive personal information unless they fully understand how it will be used and stored.
Can AI health tools increase medical misinformation?
Yes, AI can contribute to medical misinformation if outputs are misunderstood or taken as fact. AI systems generate responses based on patterns, not clinical evaluation. Without proper context, answers may be misleading. Using AI alongside professional guidance helps reduce this risk.
Are AI tools helpful for comparing medication options?
AI can help summarize general information about medications, pricing trends, and availability, including cross-border pharmacy options. This can support informed discussions with healthcare providers. However, AI should not be used to decide which medication to take or how to use it. Clinical decisions must always involve licensed professionals.
