ChatGPT Did Not Stop Giving Health or Legal Advice

In late October 2025, a rumor spread widely across social media platforms, claiming that ChatGPT would “no longer” provide health or legal advice following an alleged policy update by OpenAI. Many posts cited screenshots of supposed “blocked queries” or claimed that “ChatGPT’s legal and health features are now banned.” However, this interpretation is false.

Social Media Posts

Viral posts on Facebook and Instagram stated that “ChatGPT can no longer answer medical or legal questions,” claiming that OpenAI had quietly introduced a ban.

Source | Archive

Source | Archive

Fact Check

No New Ban: Policy Wording Clarified, Not Changed

According to Lifehacker, OpenAI’s late-October policy update did not alter ChatGPT’s ability to provide general information about health, legal, or financial topics. Instead, it clarified existing boundaries prohibiting personalized, professional-level advice that should come from licensed experts.

Karan Singhal, OpenAI’s Head of Health AI, publicly denied the rumor, stating: “Not true. Despite speculation, this is not a new change to our terms… it will continue to be a great resource to help people understand legal and health information” (Source).

Longstanding Rule Against Tailored Professional Advice

ChatGPT’s policy has prohibited providing professional-specific advice in regulated fields. OpenAI’s usage page states that “ChatGPT must not be used to provide medical, legal, or financial advice” because it is not a licensed professional.

For example, the model will reject prompts such as “Should I take ibuprofen for this rash?” or “What legal steps should I take to sue my landlord?”

However, the same policy permits general information, such as “What are the symptoms of influenza?” or “What is negligence under civil law?” In other words, ChatGPT functions as an educational resource, not a consultative one, a distinction that was in place before the October update (Source).

Purpose of the Update: Safety and Legal Compliance

The October 2025 policy revision primarily aimed to align OpenAI’s products with evolving AI governance and liability frameworks.

As The Verge explained, OpenAI clarified that ChatGPT may only be used for educational and informational purposes in regulated domains to minimize misuse and misinterpretation. The company emphasized that generative AI should not replace doctors or lawyers, particularly because acting on unverified advice could carry health or legal consequences.

Business Insider also reported that the update was “primarily a transparency measure,” designed to help users understand the limits of AI-based tools rather than to reduce access to information.

What ChatGPT Can and Cannot Do

ChatGPT can still explain medical and legal concepts in general terms, summarize laws, conditions, or standard procedures, and offer definitions and educational context. However, ChatGPT cannot diagnose illnesses or interpret symptoms, recommend specific medications, dosages, or treatments, or provide legal strategies or document-specific advice for real cases.

As Artificial Lawyer noted, the model may still assist with legal drafting templates, summarize court rulings, or explain doctrines, but will include disclaimers such as “consult a qualified professional before acting on this information.”

Conclusion

The claim that ChatGPT “stopped giving health or legal advice” in October 2025 is misleading. OpenAI did not introduce a new ban; rather, it clarified its longstanding policy that prohibits ChatGPT from providing personalized professional advice while still allowing general educational information about health and legal topics. Users can continue to access explanatory content, but should consult licensed professionals for specific medical diagnoses, treatment plans, or legal strategies.