AI tools are being used at scale to navigate healthcare systems, particularly for insurance-related queries, after-hours guidance and administrative tasks, according to a January 2026 report by OpenAI analysing anonymised ChatGPT data.
The report finds that over 5% of global interactions on ChatGPT are related to healthcare. On average, more than 40 million people turn to the platform daily with questions related to healthcare, and one in four users asks healthcare-related questions per week, indicating sustained use.
A large share of this activity relates to non-clinical tasks. The analysis estimates that 1.6 million to 1.9 million messages per week focus on health insurance, including plan comparisons, billing issues, claims, eligibility and cost-sharing. Users primarily seek help organising information, understanding terminology and preparing documents rather than medical diagnosis.
Timing data suggests AI is often used when traditional healthcare access is limited. Around 70% of healthcare-related interactions occur outside standard clinic hours, indicating a demand for information at night and on weekends.
Geographic disparities also shape usage patterns. Users in rural and underserved areas generate close to six lakh healthcare-related interactions per week. In areas defined as ‘hospital deserts’, locations more than 30 minutes from the nearest general hospital, AI tools recorded over 5.8 lakh healthcare-related messages per week during a four-week period in late 2025. States including Wyoming, Oregon and Montana ranked highest by share of such interactions.
Healthcare professionals are also using AI tools, largely for administrative support. Citing industry surveys, the report notes that 66% of US-based physicians reported using AI in 2024, up from 38% the previous year. Nearly half of US-based nurses report weekly use, primarily for documentation, billing and workflow support rather than clinical decision-making.
Meanwhile, OpenAI has released a new benchmark, HealthBench, designed to evaluate AI systems’ capabilities in healthcare.
The benchmark aims to help large language models support patients and clinicians with health discussions that are trustworthy, meaningful and open to continuous improvement. HealthBench looks at seven key areas, including emergency care, managing uncertainty and global health.
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