Elon Musk recently revealed that he uploaded his MRI results to his AI chatbot, Grok, after undergoing the medical scan. During an interview with podcaster Peter Diamandis, Musk stated that neither Grok nor his healthcare providers identified any issues with the results. This incident highlights a growing trend where individuals are increasingly relying on AI technologies to supplement medical advice.
In his discussion with Diamandis, the founder of the XPrize, Musk emphasized the role of AI in health diagnostics. “I did an MRI recently and submitted it to Grok,” he said, noting that both his doctors and the AI concluded there were no health concerns. The specific reasons for Musk’s MRI remain unclear, but his conversation revolved around broader themes of health, longevity, and the potential of AI.
Across Silicon Valley, tech leaders are investing significantly in research focused on extending human lifespan. Notable figures such as Sam Altman of OpenAI and Peter Thiel are pouring millions into projects aimed at combating aging. In a 2024 statement, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei suggested that AI could potentially double human life expectancy by 2030.
Musk has actively encouraged others to explore similar interactions with Grok. Recently, he referenced a case where a Norwegian man credited Grok with saving his life. The chatbot advised him to seek additional medical attention, leading to a CT scan that revealed a near-ruptured appendix, which his doctors had overlooked. “Try it!” Musk tweeted, reiterating his belief that AI could play a crucial role in medical diagnostics.
Despite his enthusiasm for AI’s potential in healthcare, Musk expressed caution about the pursuit of true immortality. He remarked that achieving perpetual life could be “one of the worst curses you could possibly give anyone.” Nonetheless, he believes that extending human life significantly is a challenge that can be tackled. “I’ve long thought that longevity or semi-mortality is an extremely solvable problem,” Musk asserted, suggesting that the biological aging process is more straightforward than often perceived.
During the interview, Diamandis proposed collaboration with Fountain Life, a company he co-founded that focuses on longevity through AI-guided diagnostics. The company offers various membership tiers that include testing for health biomarkers. “We do a 200 gigabyte upload of you, everything knowable about you, full genome, all imaging, everything,” Diamandis explained. He expressed concern for Musk’s health, referencing the late Steve Jobs, who delayed crucial medical treatment for pancreatic cancer.
Musk’s engagement with AI in healthcare continues to spark discussions about the potential for technology to transform medical practices. As the intersection of AI and health evolves, it remains to be seen how these advancements will shape individual health management and the broader medical landscape.
