OpenAI launched ChatGPT Health this week, a dedicated AI platform for medical inquiries that integrates with wellness apps like Apple Health. The service aims to address the 230 million weekly health-related queries the company says users currently submit globally, with partners including Boston Children's Hospital and AdventHealth already adopting the technology.
This development parallels recent advancements in the Chinese mainland's health tech sector. Ant Group's upgraded 'Afu' AI assistant – named after the Chinese word for blessing – now serves 30 million monthly users, processing over 10 million daily queries since its December 2025 relaunch. Unlike OpenAI's research-based approach, Afu connects users directly with 300,000 licensed doctors through its platform.
Both companies emphasize data security, with ChatGPT Health operating in a walled environment that excludes conversations from AI training datasets. Ant Group maintains similar privacy safeguards while combining machine learning with human expertise – a hybrid model that's resolved 27 million health inquiries to date.
As AI adoption accelerates in healthcare, these developments highlight growing global demand for accessible medical information. Industry analysts suggest such tools could reshape preventive care strategies across Asia and beyond in 2026.
