Title: OpenAI Clarifies ChatGPT’s Role: A Tool for Information, Not a Replacement for Licensed Professionals
In a move to clarify its policies and user responsibilities, OpenAI released an updated usage policy for its services on October 29, 2025. The revision underscores a critical distinction that has always been at the core of the company’s guidelines.
A Clarification, Not a Ban
The updated document explicitly states that users should not employ ChatGPT for “personalized advice that requires a professional license,” such as legal counsel or medical diagnosis, without the direct involvement of a licensed expert. This clarification led to initial speculation on some media and social media platforms that OpenAI had completely banned all medical or legal responses.
However, these claims were quickly retracted following official statements from the company. An OpenAI spokesperson clarified in an interview with Business Insider: “This policy is not a new change. ChatGPT has never been a replacement for professional medical or legal consultation, but it will remain a useful resource for better understanding health information and legal matters.”
The Line Between Information and Advice
According to Karan Singhal, Head of AI Health Research at OpenAI, this policy update is primarily aimed at clarifying legal boundaries and the company’s responsibilities. He confirmed that the model’s actual behavior “has not changed.”
In practice, this means ChatGPT can still explain medical concepts, describe symptoms of illnesses, and suggest general wellness tips. For instance, if a user states they have a common cold, the chatbot might recommend general care like drinking warm fluids or using a humidifier, while carefully avoiding specific drug prescriptions or a formal diagnosis.
The key difference lies between providing “general medical information” and offering “personalized medical advice.” The latter requires a professional license, and it is this specific area that OpenAI is demarcating to mitigate legal liability.
A Response to Growing Use and Responsibility
Industry experts note that this policy refinement is a direct response to the rapid growth in the use of AI for health-related queries. Statistics from the KFF institute indicate that approximately one in six users consults ChatGPT for health advice at least once a month.
This policy update is part of a broader effort by OpenAI to enhance user safety in sensitive domains like healthcare and law. The company has previously implemented additional safety limitations in its models following reports of rare instances where users experienced adverse effects from relying on incorrect AI-generated suggestions.
Ultimately, the goal of the recent change is not to prohibit conversations on medical topics, but to establish a clear boundary between informed dialogue and professional consultation. Users can continue to use ChatGPT as a powerful tool for general questions, but the onus remains on the individual to seek direct consultation with a qualified specialist for any critical personal decisions.