OpenAI Explores Generative AI Health Tools in Expansion Beyond ChatGPT

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OpenAI is reportedly exploring consumer health products, including a generative AI-powered personal health assistant, as part of its efforts to expand beyond its core AI offerings, according to Business Insider, citing people familiar with the matter.

The move marks a major step for the ChatGPT developer as it looks to enter the highly regulated and competitive healthcare sector. OpenAI declined to comment on the report.

The company’s healthcare ambitions come after a series of strategic hires earlier this year. In June, OpenAI appointed Nate Gross, cofounder of the physician networking platform Doximity, as head of healthcare strategy, followed by former Instagram executive Ashley Alexander joining as vice president of health products in August.

Speaking at the HLTH conference in October, Gross revealed that ChatGPT attracts around 800 million weekly active users, with a significant number seeking medical or health-related advice through the platform.

OpenAI’s expansion into health mirrors earlier efforts by Google, Amazon, and Microsoft to give consumers more control over their medical data—attempts that largely fell short. Google shut down its Health Records project in 2011, Amazon ended its Halo fitness tracker business in 2023, and Microsoft’s HealthVault also failed to gain widespread adoption.

If realized, OpenAI’s health assistant could integrate generative AI with personalized wellness and medical insights, potentially transforming how consumers manage their health. However, regulatory and ethical challenges around data privacy and medical accuracy are expected to be key hurdles.

South Korea Postpones Decision on Google’s Map Data Export Request

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South Korea has once again delayed its decision on Google’s request to export detailed map data, saying it will wait until the company provides additional documentation required for review, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on Tuesday.

The ministry’s National Geographic Information Institute (NGII) has given Google 60 business days — until February 5, 2026 — to submit the necessary materials before a final ruling is made.

The request involves Google’s plan to transfer 1:5,000-scale map data — equivalent to 50 meters per centimeter — to servers outside the country. Google says this level of detail is necessary for accurate navigation services, comparable to those offered by domestic firms Kakao Corp and Naver.

South Korea previously rejected similar requests from Google in 2007 and 2016, citing national security concerns about storing sensitive geographical data overseas.

In September, Google said it would comply with South Korea’s security requirements, including ensuring that coordinate data for locations within the country are not displayed to users inside or outside South Korea and agreeing to blur images of security-sensitive facilities.

However, the ministry stated that Google has not yet submitted an updated application reflecting these commitments. The inconsistencies between the company’s previous statements and its formal submissions have complicated the review process.

The dispute comes as Seoul and Washington continue talks on trade and security agreements, adding geopolitical weight to the outcome of Google’s mapping request.

eToro Beats Profit Estimates as Retail Investors Drive Market Momentum

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eToro, the stock and cryptocurrency trading platform, reported better-than-expected third-quarter profit on Monday, driven by a surge in retail investor activity and renewed optimism across global markets. The company’s shares rose 7% in afternoon trading following the announcement.

The ongoing equities rally—fueled by steady corporate earnings, cooling inflation expectations, and enthusiasm around the AI-driven tech boom—has prompted investors to reenter riskier assets. Gold has also seen record demand, becoming one of the most sought-after commodities this quarter.

“We have seen the gold craze hitting our customers in October, with gold reaching an all-time high,” said Yoni Assia, eToro’s CEO, in an interview with Reuters. “We also saw some rebalancing in portfolios across U.S. and European equities, and some trimming of tech holdings.”

eToro’s net contribution—which accounts for revenue after deducting crypto costs and margin interest—rose 28% year-on-year to $215 million, while adjusted profit came in at $0.60 per share, beating analysts’ estimates of $0.56 per share (LSEG data).

The company also announced a $150 million share repurchase program, signaling confidence in its growth trajectory.

eToro’s assets under administration jumped 76% year-on-year to $20.8 billion, underscoring strong retail participation supported by accessible trading apps and continuous market volatility.

Looking ahead, eToro plans to expand through acquisitions and enter prediction markets by late 2026. “We’re hungry and we have a large checkbook,” Assia said. “We’ll find the right targets to add value to our customers.”

The firm continues to face fierce competition from rivals such as Robinhood, Charles Schwab, and Morgan Stanley’s E*Trade, but Assia remains confident: “We invented social trading. Copying is the ultimate form of flattery.”