Date:
January 13, 2025
A mother claims Elon Musk's chatbot, Grok AI, detected a fracture in her daughter’s wrist, missed by urgent care doctors. The incident sparks debate on AI's role in medical diagnostics.
We might have witnessed the most astounding moment of AI's capabilities in reinventing healthcare. A diagnosis that got overlooked by a panel of doctors at urgent care was successfully made by Elon Musk's chatbot, Grok AI - a young girl’s fractured wrist.
AJ Kay shared how her daughter went to an urgent care center; the diagnosis showed nothing was injured, yet they later found that her wrist was fractured in a now-deleted viral social media post. The post on X, formerly known as Twitter, caused an influx of arguments against and for AI in medical diagnosis.
The Accident and Missed Diagnosis
AJ Kay's daughter was involved in a horrific multi-vehicle freeway accident. Their car was totaled, but fortunately, the girl walked away from the crash without emergency transport. Later, she complained of arm pain. A visit to urgent care resulted in X-rays and a doctor and a radiologist looking at them, both of whom said she did not have a fracture. They sent her home with painkillers and an ace wrap.
Despite their assurances, AJ noticed her daughter’s symptoms worsening:
- Her wrist looked abnormal.
- Her hand became cold and tingly.
- She couldn’t move her thumb.
Trusting her instincts, AJ turned to Grok AI after recalling Musk’s October post claiming the chatbot could analyze medical images.
Grok’s Game-Changing Diagnosis
Uploading the X-rays to Grok, AJ was shocked by its response:
Grok AI identified a ‘clear fracture line in the distal radius,’ contradicting the urgent care team’s assessment that the line was part of a growth plate.
When AJ asked if it was an obvious or subtle fracture, Grok confidently labeled it “quite obvious.”
Equipped with this knowledge, AJ sought a second opinion from a wrist specialist. Diagnosis: distal radial head fracture with dorsal displacement—serious, potentially surgery-requiring if not treated. He confirmed Grok's findings and set the wrist in a cast.
A Heated Debate on AI in Medicine
AJ’s post has gone viral, sparking a fierce discussion about AI’s role in healthcare. Some highlights:
Support for AI as a Second Opinion: “Doctors are human and make mistakes, but this shows how AI can be a powerful second opinion,” one user commented.
Skepticism About Overreliance: Critics questioned whether AI could handle the nuances of medical diagnoses, especially with potentially flawed input data like low-quality X-rays.
Mother’s Instincts vs. Experts: Many praised AJ for trusting her instincts and seeking a second opinion, emphasizing the importance of advocating for one’s health.
Beyond Diagnostics: What Else Can Grok AI Do?
Grok’s capabilities extend far beyond analyzing medical images:
- Real-Time Fact-Checking: Summarizing tweets, referencing texts, and providing detailed context
- Image Generation: Producing hyperrealistic visuals, including images of real people
- Travel Planning: Crafting detailed itineraries with live links
- Dual Modes: Offering both regular (factual) and fun (humorous) modes for versatile usage
Implications for Healthcare
This incident highlights the transformative potential of AI in healthcare, complementing human expertise. While it showcases AI’s ability to catch errors, it also raises ethical and practical questions about its role in critical decisions.
For now, Grok AI’s successful diagnosis has not only saved a young girl from potentially invasive surgery but also demonstrated how technology can empower individuals to advocate for better healthcare outcomes.
As AJ Kay succinctly put it: “Doctors and radiologists are human and can miss things. But AI like Grok can act as a powerful safety net.”
The debate continues, but one thing is clear—AI is here to stay, and its role in healthcare is just beginning to take shape.
