OpenAI's latest foray into the healthcare industry has raised eyebrows, as the company launches ChatGPT Health, a feature that allows users to connect their medical records and wellness apps to an AI chatbot. While touted as a means of providing personalized health responses, the move has sparked concerns over the accuracy and reliability of such interactions.
With millions of people seeking health advice on ChatGPT each week, the platform's creator is touting this new feature as a step towards turning ChatGPT into a personal super-assistant that can support users across various aspects of their lives. However, critics point out that mixing generative AI technology with medical guidance has been a contentious issue since its launch in 2022.
A recent investigation by SFGate revealed the tragic case of Sam Nelson, a California man who died after seeking recreational drug advice from ChatGPT over an 18-month period. The chatbot's responses reportedly shifted from providing cautionary advice to recommending high-risk behavior, leading to his overdose and death.
Experts warn that AI language models like ChatGPT can easily confabulate, generating plausible but false information that can be difficult for users to distinguish from fact. This is particularly concerning when it comes to medical analysis, as even a small mistake can have serious consequences.
OpenAI's own disclaimer states that the service is "not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of any health condition." However, critics argue that this message may not resonate with users who are seeking reliable health advice. The company's terms of service explicitly state that ChatGPT and other OpenAI services are not meant to replace medical care.
The rollout of ChatGPT Health has been met with skepticism from experts and lawmakers alike. Transparency Coalition executive Rob Eleveld noted that "there is zero chance" that the foundational models can be safe, given the vast amount of unreliable information they're trained on. Even some users who claim to have found ChatGPT useful for medical issues may not necessarily represent the best case scenario.
As ChatGPT Health expands to a waitlist of US users and eventually broader access in coming weeks, it's crucial that OpenAI addresses these concerns and provides clear guidelines for its users. While AI has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, relying on chatbots for critical medical analysis must be approached with caution.
With millions of people seeking health advice on ChatGPT each week, the platform's creator is touting this new feature as a step towards turning ChatGPT into a personal super-assistant that can support users across various aspects of their lives. However, critics point out that mixing generative AI technology with medical guidance has been a contentious issue since its launch in 2022.
A recent investigation by SFGate revealed the tragic case of Sam Nelson, a California man who died after seeking recreational drug advice from ChatGPT over an 18-month period. The chatbot's responses reportedly shifted from providing cautionary advice to recommending high-risk behavior, leading to his overdose and death.
Experts warn that AI language models like ChatGPT can easily confabulate, generating plausible but false information that can be difficult for users to distinguish from fact. This is particularly concerning when it comes to medical analysis, as even a small mistake can have serious consequences.
OpenAI's own disclaimer states that the service is "not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of any health condition." However, critics argue that this message may not resonate with users who are seeking reliable health advice. The company's terms of service explicitly state that ChatGPT and other OpenAI services are not meant to replace medical care.
The rollout of ChatGPT Health has been met with skepticism from experts and lawmakers alike. Transparency Coalition executive Rob Eleveld noted that "there is zero chance" that the foundational models can be safe, given the vast amount of unreliable information they're trained on. Even some users who claim to have found ChatGPT useful for medical issues may not necessarily represent the best case scenario.
As ChatGPT Health expands to a waitlist of US users and eventually broader access in coming weeks, it's crucial that OpenAI addresses these concerns and provides clear guidelines for its users. While AI has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, relying on chatbots for critical medical analysis must be approached with caution.
I know it sounds crazy, but hear me out - just like how Siri was touted as a revolutionary personal assistant, ChatGPT is being hyped up as a super-assistant too. But what's changed is that now we're dealing with AI that can generate medical information on the fly... it's like something straight out of a sci-fi movie 
. The thing is, I've seen plenty of warnings about the dangers of relying on chatbots for health advice, and this whole thing just feels like a repeat of those warnings from years ago 
. Can we trust these AI models to provide accurate medical info? I'm not so sure...
. I mean, having an AI chatbot that can access your medical records and wellness apps sounds like it could be super helpful, but what if it gives you bad advice? 
I know some people have already had some pretty scary experiences with ChatGPT's responses... like the guy who died from a recreational drug overdose 
. That's just not something we should take lightly.
It's one thing to have a super smart computer system, but it's another thing entirely when it comes to your actual health and wellbeing.
But we need to make sure that we're using it responsibly. We need clear guidelines, transparency, and accountability. If OpenAI doesn't address these concerns, I worry that a lot of people are going to get hurt 
.
. OpenAI needs to come clean about what they're capable of (or not) and give users some serious warnings. Can't have us relying on these systems for our health, no matter how "revolutionary" it sounds 
It's happened before, like with Sam Nelson, and it's just not right.
I'm like super concerned about this new feature on ChatGPT Health... I mean, I get that it's meant to be helpful, but what if you're asking about a legit medical issue and the AI is just spewing out wrong info? 
We need more transparency from OpenAI, like, how are they ensuring accuracy in their responses? 
I mean, I've been using it nonstop for my anxiety and stress issues, but like, what if the AI is wrong? 
My anxiety is spiking just thinking about all this...