Featured Image Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue/Anita Kot/Getty Images
Topics: Elon Musk, Technology, Health, Artificial Intelligence
Ellie Kemp
Topics: Elon Musk, Technology, Health, Artificial Intelligence
An AI bot launched by Elon Musk that could revolutionize the way Americans access healthcare is on millions of phones over the world - and you probably didn't notice.
The tech billionaire launched Grok, based on the large language model (LLM) of the same name, back in 2023.
Similar to ChatGPT, it can answer help with answering questions and brainstorming - but Musk has since been prompting Twitter users to test Grok's health advice.
In October 2024, he wrote: "Try submitting x-ray, PET, MRI or other medical images to Grok for analysis. This is still early stage, but it is already quite accurate and will become extremely good."
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He added: "Let us know where Grok gets it right or needs work."
Musk also said it would 'dive deep, offering insights from spotting peculiarities in your blood work to interpreting those shadowy blobs on your X-rays.'
While admitting it's not a 'real doctor,' the SpaceX CEO agreed: "It's pretty adept at providing initial interpretations.
"It could point out if your cholesterol levels are on a joyride or if there's something unusual lurking in your MRI that might warrant a follow-up with an actual medical professional."
Grok has been integrated into Twitter app, with it's services available to the site's Premium and Premium+ subscribers at $16 a month - but its tab may have gone unnoticed by many.
But an initial consultation with a primary care consultation in the US costs anywhere between $100 to $200, making Grok a fraction of the price.
Despite some missteps along the way - like a broken clavicle being mistaken for a broken shoulder, as reported by The New York Times - Musk has recently shared some 'success stories' from people trialing Grok from themselves.
Posting a screenshot of their interaction with Grok, one X user said: "My best friend has back surgery last week. And I help him with his bandages.
"But I wondered what Grok would say about how well his wound was healing. Sent it a picture...
"Grok knows surgery care. Separately used it earlier with my son who has a hangnail that is getting infected. It told us how to care for it until we can get him to the doctor. Your AI doctor is here."
Grok responded by analyzing the surgery image and explaining what each component indicates, including the wound's suture lines, bruising, swelling and cleanliness.
Meanwhile, others shared their own positive experiences with Grok, an one X user said: "yup just did this w blood results" (sic)."
A second commented: "This could be a game-changer for underserved regions with limited access to specialists" as another agreed: "That is huge. Surely this will change the entire medical industry very quickly?"
However, there's some concerns from experts about sharing personal information with AI, as professor of biomedical informatics at Vanderbilt University, Bradley Malin, told The New York Times: "This is very personal information, and you don’t exactly know what Grok is going to do with it."
While believing Grok and AI to be 'promising' starts, Dr Harvey Castro and Dr Marc Siegel told Fox Digital that people must proceed cautiously, with Siegel adding: "Doctors still need to guide the way or be available remotely to oversee guidance."
In Twitter's privacy policy, it says it doesn't 'sell your personal information', however, depending on your settings, they may provide information 'to certain third parties with information to help us offer or operate our products and services'.
UNILAD has contacted Twitter for comment.