October 31, 2025
Doctor GPT is off‑call
OpenAI updates terms to forbid usage for medical and legal advice
From AI lawyer to “ask a real one” — users cry foul while others say it’s just legalese
TLDR: OpenAI says no tailored medical or legal advice unless a licensed professional is involved. Comments erupted: some dismiss it as routine cover-your-back language, others fear startups will flee, and a few joke about “hypothetical” workarounds — big implications if you rely on AI for serious decisions.
OpenAI quietly tightened its rules, saying you can’t use its tools for tailored medical or legal advice unless a licensed pro is involved. Cue the internet meltdown. Some users are laughing at the whiplash: hype about world‑running AI followed by safety warnings and “use at your own risk.” One commenter painted a meme-worthy scene of a clumsy home robot and a dude in VR flailing — and yes, everyone heard the record scratch. Read the policy yourself here: OpenAI Usage Policies.
The thread split into two camps: Is this a real ban, or just CYA legalese? One side calls the headline overblown, insisting it’s standard “consult your doctor” language. Another side worries this nukes whole startup categories; one user asked if health/legal apps will bolt to competitors. A cheeky crowd claimed there’s a loophole — just ask as a “hypothetical” — while skeptics rolled their eyes. There’s confusion too: does “Empower people” mean personal use is fine, or is anything that nudges decisions off-limits? The drama boils down to trust: will OpenAI be a serious tool for hard problems, or a consumer toy with safety bumpers? For now, the community’s serving hot takes, memes, and a big helping of “read the fine print.”
Key Points
- •OpenAI updated its Usage Policies to emphasize safety, transparency, and user empowerment within a broader safety ecosystem.
- •The policies outline monitoring and enforcement with privacy safeguards, developer moderation tools, and a process to report misuse.
- •OpenAI reserves the right to withhold access to protect users or the service and provides an appeal process; users can subscribe for updates.
- •Prohibited uses include threats, self-harm promotion, terrorism/violence, weapons development (including CBRNE), malicious cyber activity, and IP infringement.
- •The policy forbids tailored legal or medical advice without licensed professional involvement, restricts privacy-invasive uses, and mandates protections for minors with reporting to NCMEC.