Key Takeaways
- Elon Musk is encouraging users to upload their medical test results to the X platform so that Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot, can learn to interpret them efficiently
- Grok is facing competition in the AI health space, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT Health, which allows users to securely connect medical records and wellness apps
- Experts have raised concerns about the accuracy and privacy of Grok, citing the risks of sharing personal health information on social media and the limited sample size of users who are willing to upload their images and tests
- While AI has the potential to make medical diagnoses, teaching Grok to use data from a social media platform presents concerns about both accuracy and user privacy
- The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) does not apply to medical information shared on social media, which means there is less control over where the information goes after a user chooses to share it
Introduction to Grok and AI in Healthcare
In a move that is being closely watched by the medical community, Elon Musk is encouraging users to upload their medical test results, such as CT and bone scans, to the X platform so that Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot, can learn to interpret them efficiently. As Musk said in a video posted on X, "You can upload your X-rays or MRI images to Grok and it will give you a medical diagnosis. I have seen cases where it’s actually better than what doctors tell you." This development has sparked a heated debate about the potential of AI in healthcare, with some experts hailing it as a revolutionary breakthrough and others raising concerns about the accuracy and privacy of Grok.
The Potential of Grok
According to Musk, Grok has already shown promising results in detecting medical abnormalities, with some users claiming that the AI successfully analyzed blood test results and identified breast cancer. A May 2025 study found that Grok was the most effective compared to Google’s Gemini and ChatGPT-4o in determining the presence of pathologies in 35,711 slices of brain MRI. As Dr. Laura Heacock, associate professor at the New York University Langone Health Department of Radiology, wrote on X, "We know they have the technical capability. Whether or not they want to put in the time, data and [graphics processing units] to include medical imaging is up to them. For now, non-generative AI methods continue to outperform in medical imaging." However, other experts have raised concerns about the limitations of Grok, citing instances where the AI misinterpreted medical images, such as mistaking a "textbook case" of tuberculosis for a herniated disk or spinal stenosis.
The Risks of Grok
Despite the potential of Grok, experts have raised concerns about the accuracy and privacy of the AI. As Ryan Tarzy, CEO of health technology firm Avandra Imaging, said in an interview with Fast Company, "Asking users to directly input data, rather than source it from secure databases with de-identified patient data, is Musk’s way of trying to accelerate Grok’s development. Also, the information comes from a limited sample of whoever is willing to upload their images and tests—meaning the AI is not gathering data from sources representative of the broader and more diverse medical landscape." Moreover, medical information shared on social media is not bound by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which means there is less control over where the information goes after a user chooses to share it. As Matthew McCoy, assistant professor of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania, said, "As an individual user, would I feel comfortable contributing health data? Absolutely not."
The Future of AI in Healthcare
The development of Grok and other AI chatbots in healthcare has sparked a heated debate about the potential of AI in medicine. While some experts see AI as a revolutionary breakthrough that can make medical diagnoses more accurate and accessible, others raise concerns about the accuracy and privacy of these chatbots. As the use of AI in healthcare continues to grow, it is essential to address these concerns and ensure that the development of these chatbots is done in a way that prioritizes accuracy, privacy, and patient safety. As Dr. Heacock said, "For now, non-generative AI methods continue to outperform in medical imaging." However, with the rapid advancement of AI technology, it is likely that we will see significant developments in the field of AI in healthcare in the coming years. As Musk said, "This is still early stage, but it is already quite accurate and will become extremely good." Only time will tell if Grok and other AI chatbots can live up to their promise and revolutionize the field of healthcare.
https://fortune.com/2026/01/11/why-did-elon-musk-ask-x-users-upload-medical-data-grok/
