Over 200 million people are turning to AI for healthcare guidance each week – here’s what’s happening.

If you’ve ever typed a health question into ChatGPT, you’re part of a massive global shift in how people seek medical information. Recent data from OpenAI reveals something remarkable: over 40 million people worldwide use ChatGPT to ask healthcare questions every single day. That’s one in four weekly users – more than 200 million people – turning to AI for health guidance each week.

This isn’t a distant future scenario. It’s happening right now, and it’s worth understanding what it means for all of us.

What Are People Actually Asking About?

People are using AI for a surprisingly wide range of health-related queries:

• Understanding symptoms before deciding whether to book a GP appointment
• Researching medical conditions in plain English rather than wading through complex medical literature
• Preparing for appointments by formulating better questions for their doctors
• Making sense of diagnoses they’ve received but don’t fully understand
• Exploring treatment options and their potential implications
• Navigating the healthcare system, from understanding referral processes to insurance queries

Why the Sudden Surge?

Several factors are driving this trend. Healthcare systems globally are under pressure, with GP appointments often hard to secure and waiting times stretching longer. People want answers quickly, and they want them in language they can understand – not medical jargon.

AI tools like ChatGPT can provide immediate, accessible explanations 24/7. There’s no waiting room, no eight-minute appointment limit, and no concern about “wasting the doctor’s time” with questions.

The Shift at OpenAI

Interestingly, OpenAI has now formalised this with the launch of ChatGPT Health. This represents a notable shift in their approach. Previously, there appeared to be concern about people using ChatGPT as a substitute for their GP, along with understandable worries about legal implications.

Something has changed. Rather than discouraging health queries, OpenAI has recognised the enormous demand and decided to embrace it – presumably with appropriate safeguards and clear guidance about the tool’s limitations.

What This Is Not

Let’s be absolutely clear: AI is not replacing your doctor, and it should not.

ChatGPT Health and similar tools don’t diagnose, don’t prescribe, and don’t provide personalised medical treatment. Your GP has years of medical training, knows your individual health history, and can conduct physical examinations – none of which AI can replicate.

What This Is

Think of AI as an informed companion in your health journey. It can:

• Demystify complex information – translating medical terminology into everyday language
• Help you prepare – enabling you to have more productive conversations with healthcare professionals
• Provide context – explaining the broader picture around conditions or treatments
• Offer a starting point – helping you understand when something might need professional attention

It’s about being better informed, not self-diagnosing.

A Parallel Worth Noting

At MPA, we see interesting parallels with our own field. Financial planning can be complex and daunting, filled with jargon and technical details. Technology – including AI – can help make that information more accessible and understandable.

But just as AI can’t replace your doctor, it can’t replace a qualified financial adviser who understands your unique circumstances, goals, and concerns. The human element – experience, judgement, and personalised guidance – remains irreplaceable.

The best outcomes happen when technology and professional expertise work together.

Looking Forward

The way people access and understand health information is clearly evolving. These AI tools aren’t going away – if anything, their use will grow as they become more sophisticated and trusted.

The question isn’t whether people will use AI for health information (they already are, in their millions), but how we can ensure they do so wisely. That means:

• Understanding AI’s capabilities and limitations
• Using it as a complement to professional healthcare, not a replacement
• Remaining critical about the information received
• Always seeking professional medical advice for actual health concerns

The Bigger Picture

This shift towards AI-assisted health information reflects a broader transformation in how we navigate complex subjects. People want accessible, understandable information that empowers them to make better decisions about their lives – whether that’s their health, their finances, or their future.

At MPA, we believe in the power of informed decision-making. Whether you’re trying to understand a medical condition or plan for retirement, having clear, accessible information is the foundation of making choices that truly serve your best interests.

Technology should empower you, not replace the professionals who guide you. That principle holds true whether you’re talking to your doctor about your health or your financial adviser about your future.

At MPA Financial Management, we’re committed to helping you navigate complexity with clarity. If you’d like to discuss how we can help you plan for your financial future, get in touch with our team.