According to Business Insider, OpenAI (developer of ChatGPT) is considering building healthcare products for consumers, including personal health assistants using AI. This effort shows that the company is looking to diversify its operations and expand beyond core AI services.
The report said OpenAI has hired a series of strategic personnel for this new field. In June, Nate Gross, co-founder of the Doximity network of doctors, joined OpenAI as a Health Care Strategy Director.
In August, the company continued to appoint Ashley Alexander, former CEO of Instagram, as Vice President for Health Care products.
Nate Gross revealed that ChatGPT attracts about 800 million active weekly users, a significant portion of which is for medical advice and information searches. This opens up opportunities for OpenAI to develop personalized healthcare solutions, helping users access accurate and timely medical information.
Experts say that if successful, OpenAI can create a revolution in digital healthcare, where users are supported with health monitoring, chronic disease management or receive lifestyle advice based on personal data.
However, a significant challenge awaits OpenAI. Technology giants like Google, Amazon and Microsoft have tried their best in this area but have not met expectations.
Google has closed its health record service since 2011, Amazon stopped selling Halo tracking devices in 2023, while Microsoft's Health Va Vault platform has not been attracting users.
Although OpenAI has not made an official comment, observers say that stepping into the healthcare industry is a bold move, affirming OpenAI's long-term ambition to combine AI and human health, which is a field that can shape the future of global healthcare.
