A 49-year-old Norwegian man has publicly credited xAI’s Grok AI with saving his life after it flagged a near-ruptured appendix that emergency room doctors initially dismissed as acid reflux.

The man, posting under u/Tykjen on Reddit, described enduring “24 straight hours” of “razor-blade-level” abdominal pain that no position relieved.

During his first ER visit, doctors pressed his abdomen—finding it “soft”—and prescribed antacids (Somac), sending him home. Still in agony, he turned to Grok, with whom he had maintained a year-long chat. The AI “immediately flagged perforated ulcer or atypical appendicitis,” urging him: “Go back right now and ask for a CT.”

Tykjen returned to the ER, presenting Grok’s reasoning (attributing it to his nurse sister to avoid dismissal). Doctors ordered the scan, which revealed an inflamed appendix on the verge of rupture. He underwent six-hour laparoscopic surgery, waking “laughing under anesthesia” and was discharged the next day pain-free.

He concluded: “I’m alive and healed because an AI recognized the pattern when the first exam missed it, and because I had the exact words to make them take me seriously the second time.”

The story went viral after Elon Musk shared it on X: “Grok saves man’s life in Norway!” sparking praise for AI’s diagnostic potential while noting limitations—Grok is not a medical professional, and patients should always consult doctors.

• Classic symptoms (right lower quadrant pain, fever) are absent in ~30% of cases, especially in older adults.
• Misdiagnosis as reflux or gastroenteritis is common.
• Delayed treatment risks rupture and peritonitis, with mortality rates of 5–10% if perforated.

Experts hailed the case as an example of AI empowering patients to advocate for themselves, while cautioning against self-diagnosis.