‘Not true’, says OpenAI on reports claiming ChatGPT is banned from giving legal or medical advice

OpenAI has denied claims circulating on social media that ChatGPT has been barred from giving legal and medical advice. The company clarified that no such policy change has occurred and that the chatbot’s behaviour remains consistent with its long-standing guidelines.

Karan Singhal’s clarification
Responding to the speculation, Karan Singhal, who leads Health AI, AGI Benefits, and Safety at OpenAI, dismissed the rumours in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“Not true,” Singhal wrote. “Despite speculation, this is not a new change to our terms. Model behavior remains unchanged. ChatGPT has never been a substitute for professional advice, but it will continue to be a great resource to help people understand legal and health information.”

His post directly addressed the confusion that arose from a now-deleted social media post claiming ChatGPT would no longer provide legal or health-related responses.

Policy remains unchanged
OpenAI’s usage policy has, for years, prohibited using ChatGPT to deliver tailored advice in areas that require professional licensing — such as medical, legal, or financial decisions — without appropriate professional involvement. This guideline is designed to ensure user safety and compliance with regulatory frameworks.
The current terms, last updated on October 29, reaffirm this stance. They caution against the “provision of tailored advice that requires a license, such as legal or medical advice, without appropriate involvement by a licensed professional.” However, the clause is not new — it mirrors previous policies that have always applied to the platform.