In a significant move for the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare, OpenAI has announced the acquisition of Torch, a startup that specializes in consolidating various health-related data, including laboratory results, medications, and patient visit records. As detailed in an OpenAI social media post, the purchase is aimed at enhancing their ChatGPT Health tools, offering a more comprehensive way for users to manage and understand their health.
We’ve acquired Torch, a healthcare startup that unifies lab results, medications, and visit recordings. Bringing this together with ChatGPT Health opens up a new way to understand and manage your health.
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) January 12, 2026
We're excited to welcome the Torch team to OpenAI @IlyaAbyzov, @elh_online,… https://t.co/4H8KNa8kVt
The integration into OpenAI's ecosystem promises to bolster the capabilities of ChatGPT Health, potentially transforming how individuals access and interact with their medical information. Ilya Abyzov, a member of Torch's team and whose comments were shared on social media, expressed excitement about joining forces with OpenAI. "It was a blast to build Torch with our beta users and always deeply moving to hear how it helped them," Abyzov wrote. He emphasized the importance of privacy, safety, and collaboration with physicians in their ongoing work. OpenAI has also welcomed other notable members of the Torch team, including Eliza Hutchinson, JF Hamlin, and Ryan Oman.
With Abyzov coming from a background in the ambitious healthcare company Forward, the acquisition marks what he sees as a step closer to realizing their mission to offer top-tier healthcare on a global scale. According to Abyzov's statement, the integration will enable the technology and ideas developed by Torch to reach a wider user base, potentially influencing the health and well-being of the app's hundreds of millions of weekly users.
