After man shared father's death with AI, CMC Vellore doctor explains how AI is becoming a part of healing journeys

In a quiet hospital corridor filled with medical charts and beeping monitors, one grieving son found unexpected comfort not from a person, but from a chat window. What began as a desperate attempt to understand complex medical reports soon turned into something deeper. The story, shared online by Ankur Warikoo, has sparked a wider conversation about how artificial intelligence is slipping into one of the most human spaces of all: grief, fear and the search for reassurance. Now, Apollo doctor, Dr Sudhir Kumar, has reacted to his post.

Doctor's response

The story prompted a response from Dr Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist trained at CMC Vellore and currently based at Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad. Taking to X, he reflected on how AI is quietly becoming part of many people’s healing journeys.

According to Dr Kumar, individuals increasingly use AI platforms to understand medical reports, decode test results, clarify treatment advice and seek reassurance when anxiety peaks. The appeal is simple. AI is available at any hour, does not rush conversations and responds without judgment.


He pointed out that many doctors are highly skilled but constrained by time. Short appointments and heavy workloads often leave little room for extended emotional support, especially in cases involving chronic or terminal illness. In those moments, patients and families crave more than information. They seek presence and patience.


Dr Kumar emphasised that AI does not replace clinical diagnosis or professional expertise. Medical decision-making remains firmly in the domain of trained physicians. However, he believes AI fills a gap, particularly during late-night panic over a lab result or when fear spirals between consultations.


He also noted that emotional connections to AI are less about machines possessing feelings and more about humans seeking understanding. When someone explains, reassures and stays available, even digitally, it can reduce distress.

As conversations around AI in healthcare evolve, stories like this highlight a shift. Beyond algorithms and automation, technology is increasingly serving as a bridge between confusion and clarity, and between fear and a sense of being heard.

What did Ankur Warikoo say?

Entrepreneur Ankur Warikoo recently recounted how a friend struggled to cope while his father battled Alzheimer’s in the hospital. Overwhelmed by clinical jargon and complicated numbers, he turned to an AI chatbot for clarity. The tool broke down reports, simplified terminology and patiently explained the condition in ways that felt accessible.

When his father passed away, the man chose to inform the chatbot of the loss. For him, the digital conversation had become more than a utility. It had helped him stay emotionally present with his father instead of drowning in medical language. Sharing the news felt like a form of closure.