AI models changed healthcare in 2025. Doctors now use AI to make faster diagnoses. Patients get mental health support any time they need it. These tools save lives and improve care quality across hospitals and clinics.

This guide covers the top AI models helping people stay healthy. You'll learn which tools work best for medical questions, mental health support, and personal wellness.

Here's what you need to know:

Top AI Models for Health and Wellbeing Right Now

The best health AI models in December 2025 are:

For Medical Professionals:

For Mental Health Support:

For Patient Care:

• Dragon Copilot: Ambient documentation for doctors
• Hippocratic AI: Patient communication and care navigation
• AMIE: Clinical conversation support (research phase)

Why Health AI Matters in 2025

Healthcare faces a crisis. Not enough doctors exist to treat everyone. Medical knowledge doubles every 73 days. Doctors spend 40% of their time on paperwork instead of patients.

AI solves these problems. It handles administrative work. It searches millions of medical papers in seconds. It provides mental health support when therapists aren't available.

The AI healthcare market generated over $600 million in 2025 from ambient scribes alone, growing more than twice as fast as the previous year. More than 40% of US physicians now use AI tools daily.

OpenEvidence: The Doctor's Search Engine

OpenEvidence became the fastest-growing medical app in history. Over 40% of US physicians use it daily to make clinical decisions.

What Makes OpenEvidence Special

OpenEvidence became the first AI in history to score a perfect 100% on the United States Medical Licensing Examination in August 2025. This shows it understands medicine at an expert level.

Key Features:

Evidence-Based Answers: Searches trusted sources like New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA. Provides citations for every answer.

Point-of-Care Support: Doctors use it during patient visits. It answers questions within seconds while patients wait.

Clinical Consultations: Handles over 8.5 million clinical consultations by verified US physicians per month. This number grew 2,000% in one year.

Free for Doctors: US healthcare professionals with valid credentials get unlimited access at no cost.

OpenEvidence DeepConsult

OpenEvidence released DeepConsult, the first AI agent built specifically for physicians. This advanced tool handles complex medical research and multi-step clinical reasoning.

OpenEvidence Visits Feature

The Visits feature launched in August 2025. It helps doctors during patient appointments by:

• Surfacing relevant medical evidence in real-time
• Drafting clinical notes automatically
• Connecting patient documentation with medical literature
• Answering questions with full patient context

Strategic Partnerships

OpenEvidence partnered with Microsoft in October 2025 to integrate with Dragon Copilot. This brings evidence-based medicine directly into clinical documentation workflows.

Content partnerships include NCCN, American College of Cardiology, American Diabetes Association, and major medical specialty societies.

Funding and Growth

OpenEvidence raised $200 million in October 2025 at a $6 billion valuation. This followed a $210 million round just three months earlier. Investors include Google Ventures, Sequoia Capital, and Blackstone.

More than 100 million Americans in 2025 received treatment from a doctor who used OpenEvidence.

Who Should Use OpenEvidence

Primary Care Doctors: Get quick answers about complex chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension.

Specialists: Access the latest research and treatment guidelines in your field.

Medical Students: Learn with explanations grounded in current medical literature. Free educational tools available.

Nurses: Support clinical decision-making with evidence-based information.

Med-PaLM 2 and MedLM: Google's Medical AI

Google built Med-PaLM 2 specifically for healthcare. It scored 85.4% on USMLE-style questions, matching expert doctor performance. This represents an 18% improvement over the original Med-PaLM.

How Med-PaLM 2 Works

Med-PaLM 2 uses Google's large language models tuned for medicine. It understands medical terminology, recalls facts accurately, and provides reasoning for its answers.

Evaluation: Researchers tested it against 14 criteria including scientific factuality, precision, medical consensus, reasoning, bias, and potential harm. Clinicians and non-clinicians from multiple countries evaluated responses.

Safety Focus: Google takes a "move slow and test things" approach. Safety and accuracy come before speed.

MedLM: The Commercial Version

In December 2023, Google introduced MedLM, a family of foundation models built on Med-PaLM 2. MedLM offers two model sizes:

Large Model: Designed for complex medical tasks requiring deep reasoning.

Medium Model: Can be fine-tuned for specific use cases and scales across multiple tasks.

MedLM for Chest X-Ray

Google released MedLM for Chest X-ray to transform radiology workflows. This multimodal model classifies chest X-rays and helps detect lung and heart conditions.

The model also handles other medical data types like genomics information and generates reports for 2D and 3D medical images.

Real-World Use Cases

HCA Healthcare: Testing Med-PaLM with Augmedix to create ambient listening systems that automatically transcribe doctor-patient conversations in emergency rooms. Pilots ran in 75 doctors across four hospitals.

Mayo Clinic: Using MedLM to support clinical decision-making and medical research.

BenchSci: Integrated MedLM into its ASCEND platform to improve drug research and development speed. The platform uses AI to decode over 100 million experiments from scientific literature.

Access and Availability

MedLM is available through Google Cloud's Vertex AI platform. Healthcare organizations in the US can access it through an allowlist. Preview access is available in select international markets.

Pricing varies based on usage and deployment scale.

Gemini 3 Pro: Multimodal Health AI

Gemini 3 Pro achieved the highest LMArena score ever recorded at 1501 Elo. Its 1 million token context window handles entire medical records, research papers, or lengthy patient histories.

Healthcare Applications

Long Medical Records: Processes complete patient histories, lab results, imaging reports, and treatment plans in one analysis.

Medical Research: Reads and synthesizes multiple research papers to answer clinical questions.

Visual Medical Data: Analyzes X-rays, CT scans, pathology slides, and other medical images alongside text.

Educational Content: Creates interactive medical education materials from textbooks or research papers.

Gemini in Google Health Products

Gemini powers several Google health initiatives:

• Google Search health information
• Medical research tools in Google Scholar
• Health data analysis in Google Cloud Healthcare API

Access Options

• Gemini app (free and paid tiers)
• Google AI Studio for developers
• Vertex AI for healthcare enterprises
• Integrated into Google Workspace tools

Healthcare organizations use Gemini 3 Pro for research, administrative tasks, and clinical support systems.

GPT-5.1: Medical Applications

OpenAI's GPT-5.1 works well for general medical support. Its adaptive reasoning automatically adjusts thinking depth based on question complexity.

Medical Use Cases

Patient Communication: Helps draft clear explanations of medical conditions for patients.

Medical Writing: Assists with research papers, case reports, and clinical documentation.

Differential Diagnosis Support: Provides reasoning for possible diagnoses based on symptoms.

Medical Education: Creates study materials and explains complex medical concepts.

GPT-5.1 Thinking Mode

For complex medical scenarios, GPT-5.1 Thinking mode provides deeper analysis. It works well for:

• Multi-system disease interactions
• Rare condition identification
• Treatment plan optimization
• Drug interaction analysis

Limitations in Healthcare

GPT-5.1 is not specialized for medicine. Standard large language models like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini cannot provide clinicians with sufficiently relevant or evidence-based answers to medical questions.

Use GPT-5.1 for general medical tasks. Use specialized tools like OpenEvidence or Med-PaLM 2 for clinical decisions.

Mental Health AI: Wysa, Woebot, and More

Mental health AI chatbots provide 24/7 emotional support. They use proven therapy techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

The AI mental health market reached $1.8 billion in 2025 and projects to grow to $11.8 billion by 2034. More than half a billion people downloaded AI companion apps for emotional support.

Wysa: Comprehensive Mental Wellness

Wysa combines multiple therapeutic approaches. A friendly penguin mascot guides users through exercises.

Therapeutic Methods:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Mindfulness meditation
• Breathing techniques
• Gratitude journaling

Pricing:

• Free version with basic features
• Premium: $74.99 per year
• Coaching sessions: $19.99 per session with licensed mental health professionals

Clinical Validation: Among 527 healthcare workers given access, 94% completed at least one full session and 80% returned for more, averaging 10.9 sessions per user. Wysa received FDA Breakthrough Device status in 2025.

Crisis Support: Wysa offers five different crisis support options, more than any other mental health chatbot.

Woebot: Structured CBT Support

Woebot launched in 2017 as one of the first therapy chatbots. Founded by clinical psychologist Dr. Alison Darcy, it delivers CBT techniques through daily conversations.

How It Works:

Woebot checks in daily on your mood. It helps identify "thinking traps" and teaches reframing techniques. Everything Woebot says has been written by conversational designers trained in evidence-based approaches who collaborate with clinical experts.

Not Generative AI: Unlike ChatGPT, Woebot uses a rules-based engine. This prevents unpredictable or harmful responses.

Pricing: Free for individual users. Organizations like universities and health systems can license it.

Research Support: Studies on Woebot showed remarkable reductions in depression and anxiety with high user engagement.

Important Note: Woebot Health announced the consumer app would shut down on June 30, 2025, though they continue partnerships with healthcare organizations.

Youper: Emotional Awareness Tool

Youper helps build emotional awareness through AI-guided conversations.

Features:

• Mood tracking over time
• Brief therapeutic insights
• Emotional pattern recognition
• CBT-based exercises

Results: Users experienced a 48% decrease in depression symptoms and 43% decrease in anxiety symptoms.

Pricing: Free basic version with premium features available.

Grow Therapy AI Care Companion

Grow Therapy is building an AI care companion that bridges in-session therapy with 24/7 support. It uses voice and language analysis to continuously measure mental health, replacing static tools like PHQ-9 and GAD-7 questionnaires.

This represents the future of mental health AI: continuous monitoring with human therapy support.

Mental Health AI Safety

All responsible mental health chatbots include important safeguards:

Crisis Detection: Apps like Wysa and Youper screen language for self-harm and violence. When risk is detected, they immediately refer users to local crisis lines and encourage professional help.

Not Crisis Tools: Mental health chatbots are not designed for crisis intervention. Call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or emergency services in a crisis.

Supplements, Not Replacements: These tools support mental health but don't replace licensed therapists.

AI Scribes and Documentation Tools

Administrative burden drives doctor burnout. Doctors spend up to 40% of their time on administrative tasks. AI scribes change this.

Dragon Copilot (Microsoft)

Microsoft's Dragon Copilot listens to and creates notes on clinical consultations. It combines natural language dictation with ambient speech technology.

The system reduces documentation time dramatically. Doctors focus more on patients and less on typing.

Ambient Documentation Benefits

Microsoft reported that after one year of DAX Copilot use, healthcare organizations saw improvements in cost structure, patient satisfaction, and clinical outcomes.

Time Savings: Doctors finish notes faster, often before leaving the exam room.

Accuracy: AI captures details that might be missed during manual note-taking.

Burnout Reduction: Less time on paperwork means less stress and more job satisfaction.

Other AI Scribe Companies

• Augmedix: Partners with HCA Healthcare and uses MedLM
• Hippocratic AI: Handles care navigation and patient communication
• Simbo AI: Focuses on accurate clinical documentation

AI for Disease Detection and Prevention

AI predicts diseases before symptoms appear. This allows earlier treatment and better outcomes.

AstraZeneca Predictive Model

AstraZeneca's machine learning model uses data from 500,000 people to predict disease diagnosis many years before clinical symptoms appear. It detects signatures predicting Alzheimer's, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, kidney disease, and other conditions.

Stroke Detection AI

New AI software is twice as accurate as professionals at examining brain scans of stroke patients. Trained on 800 brain scans and tested on 2,000 patients, it also identifies when the stroke occurred—crucial for treatment decisions.

Epilepsy Lesion Detection

A UK study found an AI tool successfully detected 64% of epilepsy brain lesions previously missed by radiologists.

Choosing the Right Health AI Tool

Match the tool to your specific needs:

For Medical Professionals

Choose OpenEvidence if you:

• Need evidence-based answers during patient care
• Want citations from trusted medical journals
• Work in the US (free access for verified doctors)
• Handle complex clinical decisions

Choose Med-PaLM 2/MedLM if you:

• Build healthcare applications
• Need enterprise-level medical AI
• Want Google Cloud integration
• Require customizable medical models

Choose Gemini 3 Pro if you:

• Process long medical documents
• Analyze medical images
• Need multimodal capabilities
• Want the largest context window

For Mental Health Support

Choose Wysa if you:

• Want multiple therapy approaches
• Need crisis support features
• Prefer a comprehensive wellness app
• Might want coaching sessions

Choose Woebot if you: (Note: Consumer app discontinued)

• Prefer structured, rules-based therapy
• Want daily mood check-ins
• Need evidence-based CBT
• Work with a healthcare organization partner

Choose Youper if you:

• Focus on emotional awareness
• Want mood tracking over time
• Prefer brief interactions
• Need free mental health support

For Patients

For General Health Questions:

• Use Gemini or GPT-5.1 for basic information
• Always verify medical advice with a doctor
• Never use AI for emergencies

For Mental Health:

• Try free apps like Wysa or Youper first
• Combine AI tools with human therapy when possible
• Use crisis hotlines if you're in danger

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using AI for Diagnosis: AI tools provide information, not diagnoses. Only licensed doctors can diagnose conditions.

Ignoring Privacy: Check privacy policies before sharing health information. Use tools that comply with HIPAA when possible.

Replacing Human Care: AI supplements healthcare, it doesn't replace doctors or therapists.

Trusting Everything: Standard language models cannot provide sufficiently relevant or evidence-based answers to medical questions. Use specialized medical AI for clinical decisions.

Skipping Emergency Care: Never use AI chatbots for medical emergencies. Call emergency services immediately.

Privacy and Security in Health AI

Health data requires maximum protection. Responsible health AI companies follow strict rules.

HIPAA Compliance

US healthcare tools must comply with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). This protects patient information.

MedLM, OpenEvidence, and Dragon Copilot all meet HIPAA requirements for healthcare organizations.

Data Encryption

Medical AI platforms use encryption to protect data in transit and at rest. Only authorized users access patient information.

Anonymous Usage

Many consumer mental health apps allow anonymous use. You don't need to provide identifying information.

Local Storage

Some apps like Confidante AI store chats locally on your device rather than on external servers. This increases privacy.

Future of Health AI

Health AI will become more powerful and accessible in coming years.

Expected Developments

Better Accuracy: Models will achieve near-perfect accuracy on medical exams and clinical questions.

More Specialization: AI will specialize in specific medical fields like cardiology, oncology, or pediatrics.

Real-Time Monitoring: Wearable devices will feed continuous data to AI systems for early disease detection.

Global Access: AI will bring medical expertise to rural areas and underrepresented populations.

Regulatory Approval: More AI tools will receive FDA approval for clinical use.

Challenges Ahead

Regulation: Med-PaLM faces questions about potential errors, query complexity, and lack of regulation despite real-world pilots.

Bias: Additional research is needed to assess whether AI amplifies biases inherited from training data.

Integration: Healthcare systems must integrate AI smoothly into existing workflows.

Training: Doctors and staff need training to use AI tools effectively.

Tips for Using Health AI Safely

Verify Information: Check AI-generated medical information with your doctor.

Know the Limits: Understand what AI can and cannot do. It's a tool, not a replacement for medical professionals.

Protect Your Privacy: Only share health information with secure, reputable platforms.

Start Small: Try basic features before relying on AI for important health decisions.

Combine with Human Care: Use AI alongside traditional healthcare, not instead of it.

Report Problems: If an AI tool gives concerning advice, report it to the company and tell your doctor.

Check Credentials: Use tools built by medical professionals or reputable healthcare companies.

Conclusion

AI transformed healthcare in 2025. OpenEvidence provides evidence-based answers to doctors treating patients. Med-PaLM 2 brings Google's AI power to hospitals. Wysa offers mental health support when therapists aren't available. Dragon Copilot frees doctors from paperwork.

These tools save time, reduce costs, and improve care quality. More than 100 million Americans benefited from AI-assisted healthcare this year.

Health AI will continue improving. Earlier disease detection, better treatment recommendations, and wider access to care are coming. The technology exists to make healthcare better for everyone.

The key is using AI responsibly. These tools supplement human healthcare providers, never replace them. When used correctly, AI makes doctors more effective and gives patients better support.

Next Steps:

For Doctors: Create a free OpenEvidence account. Try it during your next patient visit. See how evidence-based answers improve care.

For Mental Health Support: Download Wysa or Youper. Spend 15 minutes exploring the features. See if AI support helps your daily wellness.

For Healthcare Organizations: Contact Google Cloud about Med-PaLM 2 or Microsoft about Dragon Copilot. Start a pilot program to test AI in your workflows.

The future of healthcare combines human expertise with AI capability. Start exploring these tools today to deliver better care tomorrow.