Risks and Benefits of Uploading Electronic Health Records to AI Chatbots
By
Ifeoma Ajunwa, JD, LLM, PhD1; Ravi B. Parikh, MD, MPP2; I. Glenn Cohen, JD3
Summary
This Viewpoint examines the launch of ChatGPT Health (January 2026) and similar LLM products that allow patients to upload their entire electronic health records and wellness data for personalized health responses. It discusses the dual nature of this development: potential benefits of personalized AI health guidance alongside significant risks including privacy violations, discrimination, and worsening health disparities. The article highlights concerns about unfiltered sharing of sensitive medical data with commercial AI systems.
Source
bskyRisks and Benefits of Uploading Electronic Health Records to AI Chatbotsjamanetwork.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledIn January 2026, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Health, a product that allows patients to sync their electronic health records (EHRs) and wellness app data directly with a large language model (LLM) and receive personalized responses to health queries.
Patients have had access to an AI chatbot offering medical information since ChatGPT's initial release, but can now upload the entirety of their medical record to a commercial LLM.
This Viewpoint discusses the potential benefits and risks, such as privacy violations, discrimination, and exacerbation of health disparities, that may accompany the unfiltered upload of electronic health records to large language models.
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