OpenAI Makes a Bold Health Move
OpenAI has acquired a tiny health startup called Torch. The company did not disclose the amount. However, a source told The Information that OpenAI paid around $100 million in equity.
Torch has only four employees. All of them will now join OpenAI. Both companies confirmed the move.
Despite its size, Torch worked on an ambitious idea. It built an app that pulls together a person’s medical data from many sources. These include doctor visits, lab reports, wearables, and wellness portals. The team described it as “a medical memory for AI.”
In simple terms, Torch aimed to give AI a complete health context for every user.
From Forward Health to OpenAI
The Torch founders met at Forward Health. Forward ran AI-powered clinics and raised over $400 million. It shut down suddenly in late 2024. Torch became the team’s second act. Now, that journey continues inside OpenAI.
Co-founder Ilya Abyzov shared the background in a post on X. He said the team wanted to fix one major problem. Medical data lives in too many places. Patients struggle to access it. AI struggles to understand it. Torch tried to solve that gap.
How Torch Fits Into ChatGPT Health
OpenAI recently announced ChatGPT Health. The service helps users analyze and manage their health using the chatbot. Torch’s technology fits directly into this vision.
By unifying health records, Torch can give ChatGPT a full picture of a user’s medical history. That includes reports, test results, and wearable data. With this context, AI can respond in smarter ways.
For example, it can track trends over time. It can connect symptoms with past results. It can offer clearer summaries. This acquisition turns that idea into a core feature.
Why This Deal Matters
OpenAI rarely buys such small teams for such large sums. This deal shows how valuable health data infrastructure has become. AI already answers health questions. Now it wants memory. With Torch, OpenAI moves closer to a personal health assistant that understands your full medical story. Not just a single query. The message is clear. ChatGPT Health is not a side project. It is a long-term bet. And it starts with a four-person team and a bold idea.
