OpenAI has said that ChatGPT is receiving a large volume of healthcare related questions from users around the world. According to a report, the artificial intelligence company stated that more than 40 million users globally have asked the chatbot questions linked to health and medical information.
The company shared user interaction data with a publication, revealing that healthcare queries now account for more than five percent of all messages sent to ChatGPT worldwide. A notable share of these questions comes from underserved rural communities, where access to healthcare services and reliable information is often limited.
Health insurance has emerged as one of the most common topics. OpenAI reportedly said that between 1.6 and 1.9 million messages each week relate to insurance issues. These include questions about plan comparisons, claims, billing and coverage details.
The report also highlighted that nearly 600000 healthcare related queries are sent each week by users living in rural areas. Around seven out of ten such conversations take place when clinics and medical facilities are usually closed.
In August 2025, when OpenAI launched the GPT 5 model, the company had stated that improving health related performance was a major focus. The latest data suggests that users are increasingly relying on the chatbot for medical guidance and clarity.
OpenAI also shared findings from a survey conducted in December 2025 involving 1042 adults in the United States. According to the results, 55 percent of respondents said they use ChatGPT to check or explore physical symptoms they are experiencing. About 48 percent use it to understand medical terms and instructions, while 44 percent said they rely on the tool to learn about treatment options.
The data points to two major challenges. One is the limited accessibility of clear and easy to understand medical information. While online search engines offer health content, users often struggle with technical language and complex terms. The second issue is access to healthcare professionals, especially in regions with weak medical infrastructure. Many people avoid visiting doctors for minor issues and instead rely on alternative sources.
The report suggests that AI tools like ChatGPT are helping fill these gaps by offering information in simple language. However, concerns remain about accuracy. With AI hallucination still a challenge in 2026, the risk of misinformation remains high. OpenAI told the publication that it is continuously working to improve healthcare responses, but acknowledged that errors at scale could have serious consequences.
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