The tech world saw a familiar yet striking development this week as Anthropic introduced new healthcare features for its AI assistant, Claude, allowing users to connect medical records and health applications directly to the platform. The announcement came only days after OpenAI rolled out ChatGPT Health, signaling a clear push by major AI companies into personal healthcare data. With these updates, users can upload lab reports, medical histories, and even information from fitness and wellness apps, enabling AI systems to read, organise, and explain complex health information in simpler terms. These features are currently available mainly in the United States and remain in beta, but they offer a glimpse into how AI is steadily positioning itself as a personal health companion rather than a clinical decision maker.
In practical terms, these tools aim to help users make sense of confusing medical paperwork, track health patterns over time, and prepare more informed questions for doctor visits. The AI does not claim to replace medical professionals or provide diagnoses, but instead focuses on interpretation and organisation of existing information. This approach reflects a broader trend in healthcare technology, where AI is being used to improve access and understanding rather than deliver treatment. Globally, AI systems are already assisting doctors by detecting diseases such as lung cancer earlier through image analysis, predicting health risks, automating hospital administration, and supporting remote patient monitoring. Millions of people now turn to chatbots daily for guidance on symptoms, medication use, diet, and general wellness, especially in regions where healthcare access is limited or delayed.
Beyond patient facing tools, AI is also reshaping how medicines are developed. By analysing massive datasets, AI can identify disease targets, design potential drug molecules, and test them in virtual environments before physical trials begin. This has reduced timelines that once stretched over years to a matter of days or weeks in some cases, lowering costs and improving responsiveness during health emergencies. For countries like Pakistan, where hospitals are overcrowded, consultations are brief, and medical records are often fragmented across paper files and mobile images, such technology could offer practical relief. Digital health platforms such as Marham and Sehat Kahani have already normalised online consultations, and responsible AI integration could further help patients organise years of test results, translate medical terminology into simpler language, and assist doctors by presenting patient histories in a clearer format.
However, the growing role of AI in handling sensitive health information also raises serious questions around trust and data protection. Anthropic has stated that health data shared with Claude is not used to train its AI models and that users retain control over what information they share, with the option to disconnect access at any time. The company also claims compliance with healthcare privacy standards. OpenAI has similarly clarified that ChatGPT Health is designed to help users understand patterns and everyday health information rather than offer diagnosis or treatment. Despite these assurances, medical professionals and digital safety experts remain cautious. AI systems can misinterpret data, overlook context, or oversimplify complex conditions, which may lead to confusion or delayed care if users rely too heavily on automated explanations.
Data security remains a major concern, particularly in countries where digital regulation and healthcare infrastructure are still evolving. Sharing deeply personal medical information with private technology companies requires a level of trust that many users may not yet be comfortable with. While AI promises convenience and clarity, it also asks individuals to weigh what they gain against what they potentially give up. As AI becomes more embedded in everyday health decisions, users may need to pause before uploading their next medical report and consider not just how helpful the explanation might be, but who ultimately controls and safeguards that information.
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