X’s Head of Product, Nikita Bier, sparked a social media firestorm after sharing a viral post about a medical incident where Grok—X’s in-house AI chatbot—recommended a test that a doctor initially dismissed but later turned out to be crucial. Elon Musk, who owns X and launched Grok, responded to the post with a short but pointed reply: “Always check with @Grok.”
Bier’s post has since stirred debate about the growing role of AI in healthcare—and how much trust it should be given.
“Took a friend to the ER for a high fever,” Bier wrote. “I put their symptoms into Grok. It suggested four tests. The doctor said one of them wasn’t needed. I pushed for all four. The one he skipped came back positive.”
Musk Weighs In
Musk’s reaction to Bier’s tweet was brief but supportive: “Always check with @Grok,” he wrote, seemingly endorsing the chatbot’s usefulness in real-world medical scenarios.
Mixed Reactions Online
The post quickly went viral, with users divided. Some praised the potential of AI in medical settings, sharing similar stories of overlooked symptoms that were later flagged by technology. Others were skeptical of Bier’s anecdote and questioned the wisdom of relying on an AI chatbot for health advice.
“I checked my niece’s symptoms with Grok,” one user commented. “It noticed something odd about her nail. Turned out she had an infected nail bed—caught early.”
Others were more cautious.
“It’s a pattern-matching engine, not a doctor,” one person warned. “It doesn’t understand why it recommends tests—it just reflects what it’s been trained on.”
“A good doctor wouldn’t have needed AI,” another commenter added. “There’s no substitute for clinical experience.”
Who Is Nikita Bier?
Nikita Bier is known for creating viral apps like Gas and TBH, both of which were popular with teens. In a post from July 30, he announced his new role at X as Head of Product.
“I’ve officially posted my way to the top,” he joked. “X is the most important social network in the world—it’s where internet culture is born, and where the world’s most influential people gather.”
AI in Healthcare: Promise or Pitfall?
Bier’s story has reignited a larger conversation about AI’s role in healthcare. While tools like Grok may offer supplementary insights, many warn they should never replace trained medical professionals. As one commenter put it, “There’s a reason they call it practicing medicine.”
