Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke at the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Summit on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, where he characterized artificial intelligence as a tool to decentralize medical authority. During a fireside chat with Vice President JD Vance, Kennedy stated that AI would prevent Americans from being dominated by public officials and would provide a way to verify official public health guidance on topics such as vaccines and masking.
The event in Washington, D.C., hosted by the MAHA Center, focused on the intersection of technology and public health. It followed a Monday session held by the MAHA Institute that discussed using AI to analyze health data and reduce costs. The summit was sponsored by AI firms OpenAI and Anthropic, and featured representatives from both companies as well as deputy administrators from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Kennedy reported that since he took office, the number of medical records shared across the industry grew from under 10 million to 1 billion. He stated that he recently met with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who suggested that while he previously would not have recommended using AI for medical advice, the technology has reached a point where it would be "malpractice" for a clinician not to consult it when advising patients.
Vice President Vance addressed public concerns regarding AI, stating that while companies should be held accountable for harm, critics have focused too heavily on catastrophic risks like those depicted in science fiction. However, some summit attendees expressed reservations about sharing personal health data, and Republican Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) previously questioned Kennedy regarding the environmental and health risks posed by data centers.
Secretary Kennedy’s comments suggesting doctors consult AI tools mark a potential shift in clinical practice and the source of expertise. By reporting an increase in shared medical records—from under 10 million to 1 billion over 15 months—the administration has highlighted changes in how personal health data is accessed by private and public entities.
Kennedy encourages individuals to use AI to "check" recommendations on vaccines and masks. This could result in contradictory information between government health agencies and AI models. Furthermore, the push for AI integration involves technology companies in the federal health data infrastructure, creating a new precedent for corporate involvement in government health policy.
The Health and Human Services Department is reviewing existing studies and conducting new research on the health risks of data center expansion, a concern raised by both Republican lawmakers and advocacy groups like Moms Across America. The White House anticipates that these technology-focused health initiatives will influence voter support in the November elections. Specific dates for new AI-related medical regulations or additional data-sharing mandates were not reported.