OpenAI acquired Torch, a health records startup, for an undisclosed sum, though a source told The Information the deal was worth $100 million in equity. The four-person team from Torch will join OpenAI, according to statements from both companies.

Torch developed an application designed to aggregate an individual's medical information from various sources, including doctor's visits, lab results, wearable devices, and consumer wellness tests, for use in artificial intelligence applications. The team referred to their technology as a "medical memory for AI," designed to unify disparate records into a cohesive context engine.

Ilya Abyzov, co-founder of Torch, stated in a post on X that the team members previously worked together at Forward Health, a company known for its AI-powered doctor's offices. Forward Health ceased operations in late 2024 after securing over $400 million in funding.

The acquisition, characterized as an acqui-hire, will integrate the Torch team and its technology into OpenAI's recently announced ChatGPT Health, a service intended to allow users to analyze and manage their health using the chatbot. ChatGPT Health aims to provide users with a tool to understand and interact with their medical data more effectively.

The integration of Torch's technology into ChatGPT Health could streamline the process of accessing and interpreting personal health information. By consolidating data from diverse sources, the platform aims to offer a more comprehensive view of a user's health status, potentially facilitating more informed discussions with healthcare providers and enabling more proactive health management. The acquisition reflects OpenAI's strategic move into the healthcare sector, leveraging AI to improve personal health management and analysis.