Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli Introduces Medical ChatGPT Clone Dr. Gupta
After being released from prison last year, Martin Shkreli, also known as the Pharma Bro, has ventured into the world of medical AI. Shkreli has introduced a new medical chatbot named “Dr. Gupta” that can answer a range of medical questions. Shkreli claims that this chatbot could potentially be a “replacement for all healthcare information.”
The technology behind Dr. Gupta is based on a modified version of OpenAI’s popular ChatGPT. The large language model has been trained on data from various online sources, including medical journals. Many other companies, such as Snap, have already released their own industry-focused AI alternatives powered by ChatGPT.
Dr. Gupta works by allowing users to ask up to 5 free medical questions, after which they must pay a $20 per month subscription fee to maintain access. The chatbot gives a response to any medical query almost instantly. Users can also submit their age, vitals, and lab test results for more personalized and informative suggestions.
However, during a test conducted by Gizmodo, Dr. Gupta displayed a disclaimer indicating that it is not a real physician. Instead, the chatbot is intended to serve as an alternative to a search engine. While the chatbot did provide basic information during the test, it did not seem revolutionary or all that different from ChatGPT.
As Shkreli is banned from the drug industry, launching an AI tool that gives medical advice and recommends drugs could potentially violate the ban. In addition, concerns have been raised about the accuracy of medical information provided by Dr. Gupta. Large language models like ChatGPT are known to “hallucinate” and provide inaccurate or even harmful information. There are also concerns over how Dr. Gupta will handle sensitive medical data in compliance with regulatory protections such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Despite these concerns, Shkreli seems undeterred. When asked about preventing physicians from doing the same thing, he responded simply, “Read the terms. If you don’t want to use it, do not use it!”
