ChatGPT turns three; nicotine pouches — the latest TikTok trend; AI training surgeons – Morning Medical Update

ChatGPT turns three and critics say it’s still not growing up

New commentary from psychiatrist Allen Frances, M.D., and computer scientist Jeff Pennington marks ChatGPT’s third birthday with a sharp critique of its rapid ascent.

They argue the chatbot’s “premature” 2022 release prioritized growth over guardrails, fueling massive adoption but also worsening psychiatric symptoms, spreading misinformation, and creating new avenues for exploitation.

The authors detail OpenAI’s shift from nonprofit ideals to profit-driven acceleration and warn that chatbots now influence patient thinking and physician workloads in ways the health system is unprepared to manage. Read more in Psychiatric Times.

Nicotine pouches — the latest TikTok trend

A new analysis from UBC Okanagan finds that nicotine pouches — originally marketed for smoking cessation — are being repackaged on TikTok as aspirational lifestyle accessories for teens and young adults. Reviewing 250 high-engagement videos, researchers found overwhelmingly positive portrayals of products like Zyn, emphasizing ease of use, discreetness and social belonging, while downplaying risks such as gum disease, tooth decay, cardiovascular effects and addiction.

With more than 16 million likes and nearly two million shares, the content suggests social media is accelerating nicotine normalization among adolescents. Investigators caution that these pouches function less as cessation tools and more as “addiction starters,” with public health efforts racing to keep pace.

AI training surgeons

Johns Hopkins researchers have developed an explainable AI system that gives medical students real-time, personalized feedback as they practice suturing, potentially easing pressure from a growing surgeon shortage.

Trained on expert hand movements, the tool not only rates performance but tells learners precisely how their technique deviates from surgical standards. In a randomized trial of 12 students, those with prior suturing experience improved more quickly with AI coaching than with traditional expert-video comparison. Researchers hope to scale the technology to at-home training, positioning AI as a powerful “substitute teacher” for procedural skills.