AI News
22 Jan 2026
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ChatGPT Health vs Claude comparison: How to choose safely
ChatGPT Health vs Claude comparison helps clinicians and patients pick the safer privacy-aware option.
ChatGPT Health vs Claude comparison: quick take
- Use cases: both summarize records, explain test results, spot patterns, and draft questions for appointments.
- Access: ChatGPT Health is in limited testing with a waitlist; Claude for Healthcare is available to US Pro and Max users, plus enterprise and API access.
- Data: Both say health data will not be used to train models. Claude’s sharing is off by default; ChatGPT Health keeps health chats in a dedicated space.
- Limits: Both are assistants, not a substitute for in-person care. AI can hallucinate, so verify advice with a clinician.
What each tool offers today
ChatGPT Health
ChatGPT Health lets you upload records from apps like Apple Health and Function, then receive clear health information. OpenAI says it developed the feature with doctors. It is in early testing now and should reach the web and iOS in the coming weeks. You can join a waitlist. OpenAI says the Health area is a dedicated space. Health chats stay there. The system may reference non-health details, like a recent move, but you can view and adjust what it remembers in the Health tab or in Personalization settings. OpenAI also says it will not use your health data to train new models. And it stresses that this is support, not medical care.Claude for Healthcare
Claude for Healthcare lets US Pro and Max subscribers connect health apps through built-in connectors. Claude can summarize your medical history, explain test results in plain language, detect patterns across fitness and health metrics, and help you prepare questions for appointments. Anthropic also offers connectors and skills for payers and providers. Doctors can use it to speed prior authorization checks with insurers. Healthcare organizations can access Claude for Healthcare via Claude for Enterprise and the Developer Platform. By default, sharing is off, and users control which health data they share. Anthropic says health data is not used to train models, and, like OpenAI, reminds users it is not a replacement for care.Safety checklist before you try either
- Avoid emergencies: Do not use either tool for urgent or severe symptoms. Call local emergency services or see a clinician.
- Start simple: Use the tools to understand lab terms, track trends, or draft visit questions, not to diagnose yourself.
- Verify: Cross-check AI outputs with your doctor, official care instructions, or trusted sources.
- Control data: In Claude, keep sharing off unless needed and pick what to share. In ChatGPT Health, review the Health tab and Personalization settings to manage memories and context.
- Limit exposure: Only upload the data needed for the task at hand.
- Document important steps: If you use AI to prepare insurance or prior authorization notes, keep your own records and confirm with the insurer.
How they fit your role
Patients
If you want help making sense of health records and tests, both options can help. Claude for Healthcare is available now to US Pro and Max users. ChatGPT Health works with Apple Health and Function but is still rolling out, so you may need to join the waitlist. In this ChatGPT Health vs Claude comparison, pick what you can access today and what links best with your apps.Clinicians and payers
Claude for Healthcare offers connectors and skills for workflows like prior authorization and is available through enterprise and developer channels. ChatGPT Health is focused on consumer use right now. If your team needs organizational access or API integration, Claude’s enterprise track may fit better. Always keep clinical judgment first and follow your organization’s privacy policies.What about Google’s MedGemma 1.5?
Google’s MedGemma 1.5 is a model family for developers building apps that interpret medical text and images. It is not a consumer chatbot. It shows how fast AI is moving into healthcare, but most patients and clinicians will see it indirectly, inside future apps that developers create, not as a direct assistant like ChatGPT Health or Claude.Decision guide: picking a safe starting point
- Choose ChatGPT Health if:
- You want an assistant that works with Apple Health and Function.
- You prefer a dedicated Health space with visible memory controls.
- You are willing to join a waitlist as it rolls out on web and iOS.
- Choose Claude for Healthcare if:
- You are a US Pro/Max subscriber who wants to connect health apps now.
- You value that sharing is off by default and you can pick the data to share.
- Your clinic or payer team needs connectors, skills, or enterprise/API access (including prior authorization support).
- For either choice:
- Use it to prepare, not to diagnose.
- Check outputs with a clinician, especially for care decisions.
- Review privacy settings before sharing sensitive records.
(Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/openai-anthropic-google-release-ai-healthcare-tools/)
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