AI Pulse #5 Jan 10 2026 OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Health and 2026 Show Me the Money Year

Good morning

Here's what's happening in AI today:

1. OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Health Connecting Medical Records to AI

What happened: OpenAI announced ChatGPT Health, allowing users to securely connect medical records and wellness apps directly to the chatbot. Not intended for diagnosis or treatment, it's designed to help navigate everyday health questions using your own health data.

Why it matters: This is OpenAI's major push into healthcare after months of preparation. Sam Altman previously told CNBC that healthcare showed the "strongest improvement of any category" with GPT 5. Hundreds of millions of people already ask health questions weekly.

The setup: ChatGPT Health has its own dedicated space, keeping all health files and conversations separate from other chats. Developed in close collaboration with physicians according to OpenAI.

Our take: This is both useful and risky. Grounding responses in your actual medical records could make advice more relevant. But we've seen lawsuits from people claiming chatbot advice caused harm. OpenAI is walking a tightrope here.

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/07/openai-chatgpt-health-medical-records.html

2. 2026 Is the Show Me the Money Year for AI Companies

What happened: Industry experts say 2026 is when AI companies must prove real ROI. Boards will "stop counting tokens and pilots and start counting dollars" according to EY's global tech sector leader.

Why it matters: The free spending era is over. 68 percent of CEOs plan to spend even more on AI in 2026, but investors and boards are demanding actual returns. No more pitches, no more promises, just profits.

The pressure: Companies could go bankrupt from aggressive AI spending if ROI doesn't materialize. On the flip side, we'll see major AI IPOs and GDP growth could jump 100 basis points in America if AI delivers.

Our take: This separates real businesses from vaporware. Companies that can't demonstrate clear value by year end are toast. The reckoning is here.

Source: https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/ai-2026-money-openai-google-anthropic-agents

3. Alphabet Predicted to Hit 5 Trillion Dollar Market Cap in 2026

What happened: Analysts predict Alphabet (Google) could reach $5 trillion market cap by end of 2026, joining Nvidia in the exclusive club. Currently at $3.8 trillion, would need 32 percent growth.

Why it matters: This is a bet that Google will monetize AI better than competitors. With their vertically integrated tech stack and AI directly in search, they have massive leverage.

The math: Alphabet's stock gained 65 percent in 2025. Hitting $5 trillion requires roughly half that performance in 2026. Trading at 31 times earnings, which looks reasonable given growth trajectory.

Our take: Google's position in search plus AI gives them an unfair advantage. They can force AI results on billions of users without asking permission. That's worth trillions.

Source: https://www.fool.com/investing/2026/01/09/prediction-this-monster-artificial-intelligence-ai/

4. AI Will Be Better at Tasks Than Answering Questions in 2026

What happened: OpenAI's CEO of applications says by end of 2026, "answering questions will be the least useful thing AI can do." Instead, proactive AI assistants will run in background getting things done.

Why it matters: This is the shift from chatbots to agents. From asking AI questions to AI actually doing work for you across web and real world.

The vision: Semi autonomous agents were 2025's talk. 2026 is when they become reality as improved models reduce mistakes and businesses gain confidence to hand off more work.

Our take: This only works if reliability dramatically improves. Current AI still makes too many errors for full autonomy. But if they crack this, it changes everything about knowledge work.

Source: https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/ai-2026-money-openai-google-anthropic-agents

BY THE NUMBERS

$5T Alphabet's predicted market cap by end of 2026

68 percent of CEOs planning to spend more on AI in 2026

Hundreds of millions of people asking ChatGPT health questions weekly

32 percent stock growth Alphabet needs to hit $5 trillion

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

First ChatGPT Health privacy breach or lawsuit

Which major AI company reports disappointing ROI first

Alphabet vs Nvidia race to maintain $5 trillion valuation

The stakes just got real. 2026 is the year AI companies must actually deliver or die trying.

What do you think is riskier: ChatGPT Health connecting to medical records or companies bankrupting themselves chasing AI ROI?