When to Ask AI (Like ChatGPT) for Health Advice and When You Need Healthvizor.
Written By
Suresh Veerapaneni
Founder & CEO, Healthvizor
Medical Reviewer
Dr. Ajay Sharma, MD
Preventive Care & Geriatrics
"AI is smart. Personalized health is smarter."
Adapted and inspired by insights originally shared by Robin Berzin, MD — founder of Parsley Health, whose thoughtful newsletter on "How to Use AI for Health (and When Not To)" perfectly captured the current moment. We resonated deeply with her message and wanted to expand on it for our own readers at Healthvizor. Thanks, Robin!
1 in 5 people now use ChatGPT for health advice.
And according to Cornell University research, 1 in 5 of them follow advice that turns out to be wrong.
AI is changing how we think about health. It's fast, accessible, and surprisingly knowledgeable, friendly, always-on companion that can decode medical jargon or explain your latest lab report in seconds.
But here's the catch: AI doesn't know you.
Your biology, lifestyle, goals, and context, that's where the difference lies between "technically correct" and truly personalized.
At Healthvizor, we love AI (in fact, we use it). But we also know where it stops and where real, data-driven, functional health intelligence begins.
The Upside of ChatGPT for Health
AI can be a fantastic co-pilot, if you use it wisely.
Here are a few things it does remarkably well:
- Explaining your lab results in plain English, helping you understand what your numbers mean.
- Preparing questions for your next doctor visit so you can make the most of your time.
- Summarizing scientific information to help you explore a condition or supplement.
- Helping with healthy routines from structuring a supplement schedule to suggesting general lifestyle habits.
Used correctly, AI can make you a smarter, more informed patient.
But it's not yet your doctor, and it's definitely not your personalized health system.
The Pitfalls: When GPT Isn’t Enough
As Dr. Robin Berzin highlighted, even when AI gets things technically right, it often misses the clinical or emotional context that truly drives health outcomes.
Here’s why:
- Incomplete Inputs = Wrong Answers.
Unless you know exactly what details to include like allergies, medications, history, subtle lab markers, your AI output is based on an incomplete picture.
- AI Can "Hallucinate."
It may sound confident while citing fake studies or recommending unproven supplements.
- No Context or Clinical Judgment.
AI doesn't know if your fatigue is caused by iron deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, or chronic stress. Functional patterns like these need human-guided interpretation.
- Privacy Risks.
Uploading your lab reports to a public chatbot? Not secure. ChatGPT isn't a HIPAA or DPDP-compliant system.
- It Lacks Personalization.
The same advice given to a 28-year-old athlete and a 52-year-old executive under stress may look identical and that’s the problem.
Where Healthvizor Comes In
At Healthvizor, we've built what AI should be for your health grounded in medical-grade lab data, personalized insights, and functional optimization.
Here's what makes it different:
Data That's Real and Yours
Healthvizor connects directly with certified labs, not screenshots. Every recommendation is based on validated biomarker data, not self-reported symptoms alone.
AI + Clinical Science
Our AI engine interprets your labs using evidence-informed, peer-reviewed functional and preventive medicine reference ranges highlighting early optimization patterns that traditional panels may overlook.
Physician-Guided Boundaries
Healthvizor is built to enhance, not replace medical care. When complex patterns or critical risk thresholds appear, the system automatically suppresses recommendations and prompts you to consult your doctor first. Wellness insights are only reactivated once you confirm that medical guidance has been obtained. It's how we keep personalization safe, responsible, and truly supportive of your health journey.
Personalized, Not Generic
We don't just tell you your vitamin D is low, we explain why it matters for your metabolism or sleep, and how to correct it safely for you.
Built for Privacy
Your data stays within a secure, compliant ecosystem, never pasted into public AI models. Healthvizor complies with India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act) and follows best-practice security protocols equivalent to HIPAA standards. Your data is never sold or shared; it's encrypted end-to-end and used only to generate your personalized insights.
The Bottom Line
AI can be your learning partner but your health deserves precision, personalization, and protection.
When you're ready to go beyond generalized "internet health," Healthvizor bridges the gap between AI convenience and functional medicine intelligence delivering insights built for your body, not just your search query.
Try Healthvizor
Reveal what your labs are really saying about your metabolism, recovery, inflammation, and longevity with personalized, science-backed insights you can trust.
Start my Health JourneyAbout
The Founder
Suresh Veerapaneni
Founder & CEO, Healthvizor20+ years in healthcare & tech. Passionate about functional medicine, performance optimization, and longevity. Committed to helping people live better, longer, not just longer.
The Reviewer
Dr. Ajay Sharma
MD, Preventive Care & GeriatricsA seasoned physician with 25 years of experience, specializing in preventive care and geriatrics. A pioneer in India's healthcare innovation, he contributed to the development of India's first hemodialysis machine for CKD patients under the 'Make in India' initiative. With a philosophy that healthy aging leads to a better quality of life and nation, Dr. Sharma brings a unique perspective from his work across corporate hospital setups in Bangalore and the Netherlands. He mentors healthcare startups, fostering innovation and advocating for holistic, personalized care to achieve optimal health outcomes.
Disclaimer
Healthvizor does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All information is for educational and preventive purposes only. Users should consult a qualified healthcare provider before making medical decisions or acting on any recommendations.