On January 12, 2026, OpenAI announced the acquisition of Torch Health, a medical AI startup valued between $60 million and $100 million, to enhance ChatGPT Health’s functionality. This new integration aims to revolutionize health management by unifying lab results, medications, and visit recordings within a dedicated platform. ChatGPT Health, available to OpenAI members as of January 7, 2026, features isolated health conversations, enhanced encryption for data security, and does not utilize health data for model training. Its conservative approach emphasizes medical risks and professional advice, in contrast with general ChatGPT interactions.
Founded in 2024 by a team from Forward Health, Torch aims to create a “medical memory” to streamline fragmented health information. The acquisition places OpenAI in a competitive position alongside emerging players like Anthropic, enhancing the user experience for over 40 million daily health inquiries. This strategic move showcases OpenAI’s commitment to healthcare innovation and user empowerment.
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