How Google Gemini figured out what was wrong with my dad – and may have saved his life
This is one of the most extraordinary personal stories I've ever told – and it has significant investment implications. I go into a lot of details on the trip, but they're important later on. So buckle up (and, full warning, there are some nasty photos of skin lesions below)...
As background, readers may recall that I spent nearly a month with my parents, from mid-December to January 7. I was in Kenya for the first two weeks, where they're retired.
Then we had a last-minute 10-day trip all over South Africa, concluding with three nights at Leshiba Wilderness, an amazing private game reserve owned by friends of ours (if you go to South Africa, I highly recommend it).
It was a very active trip, with lots of walking around every day. In particular, we did long hikes through the bush at the reserve, as you can see in these pictures:
Note that my dad was wearing long pants. But the local guides still had us all spray our legs and pants with bug spray because of ticks.
My dad was an absolute champ during the entire trip. Sure, he was tired at the end of every day. But after a good night's sleep, he was raring to go the next morning.
On January 7, we flew back to Nairobi, where they went home and I flew back to the U.S.
For the next week, my mom reported that my dad was feeling weak. We chalked it up to recovering from our long, active trip to South Africa.
But last Friday, she said he was so weak that he couldn't even stand up or walk without assistance. It was a total reversal from how he'd been just a week earlier.
We were so worried that my mom took him to the hospital, and I raced to the airport to catch the nonstop flight back to Nairobi. I got to the hospital by midday Saturday.
By then, he had improved to the point where he could walk (albeit slowly). So over the next few days, we took him out to lunch, to buy a new TV, and home for an afternoon. Then we returned him to the hospital so the doctors could monitor him and continue doing tests:
It was very frustrating that they couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. He had no headaches or body aches and wasn't in pain... His heart was beating regularly, so it wasn't a flare-up of his A-fib... His lungs were clear, so it wasn't pneumonia... And all the tests for COVID, malaria, etc. were negative.
Was it an infection? A virus? A variant of the "super flu" going around the world? Or, heaven forbid, cancer or a blood clot?
On Tuesday evening, right before I was going home on Wednesday, we got a real scare. My dad regressed to how he'd been last Friday: so weak I had to pull him out of his chair, support him as he shuffled slowly to the car, and lift his feet into the car to take him back to the hospital.
It was so alarming that my sister, who lives in Washington, D.C., booked a flight to Nairobi the next morning and arrived on Thursday. Her college-age son, who's taking a divemaster scuba program on the coast of Kenya, also flew up and arrived just as I was leaving on Wednesday afternoon.
Below is a picture of them from yesterday. As you can see, my dad was feeling better but was still quite weak – and we still didn't know what was wrong with him:
After my flight arrived in D.C. yesterday, I took an Uber to Baltimore, Maryland to do a day of work at the headquarters of Stansberry Research's parent company, MarketWise (MKTW).
Then, last night, I went to dinner with my old friend Porter Stansberry and some of his colleagues, where we discussed artificial intelligence and whether AI stocks are in a bubble.
In particular, we were sharing our observations and experiences with OpenAI's ChatGPT and the various other competitors like Google's Gemini, X's Grok, and Perplexity.
Right then, the idea occurred to me: Might AI be able to help figure out what's wrong with my dad?
I pulled out my phone, rudely disconnected from the dinner conversation, opened up the ChatGPT app, and typed:
What is wrong with my 84-year-old father? Was in South Africa and Kenya. Highly fatigued for the last week, mild fever, mild cough, but no phlegm and lungs clear, no headache or body aches, negative COVID test, no detectable infection, no vomiting or diarrhea.
Within seconds, it gave me this extensive answer, highlighting these four areas:
- Travel-related infections (top priority)
- Atypical pneumonia
- Cardiac or clot-related problems triggered by travel
- Noninfectious causes
I was disappointed with these results, as nothing obvious jumped out at me. But I figured the output was worth forwarding to my sister and parents for them to share with the doctors, in case it triggered something new to look into.
Then, almost as an afterthought, I decided to enter the same inquiry into Google's Gemini – and hit the jackpot! Here's the first part of the full reply:
It is very important to take these symptoms seriously, even if they seem "mild." In an 84-year-old traveler returning from sub-Saharan Africa, a mild presentation can be deceptive because the elderly often do not mount a robust immune response (like a high fever or heavy phlegm) even when a serious infection is present.
Given the travel to Kenya and South Africa, there are four primary concerns that a doctor needs to investigate immediately...
First on the list was malaria:
1. Malaria (the most urgent concern)
Even with a "mild" fever and clear lungs, malaria must be ruled out first. It is the most common life-threatening infection in travelers returning from Kenya.
Why it's tricky: In older adults, malaria often presents with "nonspecific" symptoms like extreme fatigue and a dry cough rather than the classic "shaking chills."
Crucial note: A single negative test (if he has had one) does not always rule it out. Doctors often require a series of "thick and thin blood smears" over 48 hours.
Then African tick bite fever ("ATBF"):
2. African tick bite fever
This is very common in travelers who have been to South Africa or Kenyan game reserves.
Symptoms: It often causes a fever, headache, and a dry cough.
What to look for: Check his skin (especially his legs, groin, or armpits) for a small, painless sore with a black center that looks like a cigarette burn (called an eschar). This is a hallmark sign, though it can sometimes be missed.
Next, atypical pneumonia or influenza:
3. Atypical pneumonia or influenza
At 84, the immune system may not produce the typical "wet" cough or chest pain associated with pneumonia.
The "silent" infection: Seniors can have significant lung infections with "clear" sounding lungs on a physical exam. A chest X-ray is often needed to see what's actually happening.
Fatigue as a primary sign: In the elderly, profound exhaustion and a low-grade fever are often the only early signs of a brewing respiratory infection.
And finally, pulmonary embolism ("PE"):
4. Pulmonary embolism
Long-haul flights from Africa put older travelers at a higher risk for blood clots ("DVT") that can travel to the lungs.
Symptoms: A dry cough, fatigue, and a mild fever can actually be signs of a small blood clot in the lung, even without leg swelling.
Gemini then gave a list of recommended next steps to take:
You should seek medical evaluation for him today, preferably at a facility with travel medicine or infectious disease expertise.
- Demand a malaria test: Specifically ask for a "malaria blood smear." Do not assume it is "just a virus" or "jet lag."
- Mention the travel: Tell the doctor explicitly: "He just returned from Kenya and South Africa." This changes the diagnostic path entirely.
- Check oxygen levels: If you have a home pulse oximeter, check his oxygen saturation. If it is below 94%, seek emergency care.
- Skin check: Look for any "black-centered" sores or unusual rashes.
Would you like me to help you find a travel medicine clinic nearby or prepare a list of specific questions for his doctor?
My parents are very familiar with malaria, and the doctors had tested for it, so that ruled out No. 1 on the list.
But No. 2, African tick bite fever, leaped off the screen because Gemini noted this hallmark sign: "a small, painless sore with a black center that looks like a cigarette burn (called an eschar)."
Sure enough, on Tuesday, my mom had pointed out a nasty-looking, inflamed area on the back of my dad's calf. But it wasn't painful so we'd (stupidly) dismissed it as a bruise, figuring he must have bumped into something.
This is what it looks like today (forgive the following gruesome photos):
I then googled images of African tick bite fever and quickly found dozens of photos like these that looked just like my dad's leg:
To be sure, I uploaded the photo of my dad's leg into Gemini and asked: "Does this look like African tick bite fever?" Gemini replied:
This image shows a lesion that is very concerning for an eschar, which is the hallmark sign of African tick bite fever.
In the context of his recent travel to South Africa and Kenya, his age, and his symptoms of fatigue and mild fever, this lesion provides a critical diagnostic clue...
The lesion in the photo has the classic characteristics of a rickettsial eschar:
- The central scab: It features a dark, necrotic (dead tissue) center that looks like a "cigarette burn."
- Surrounding redness: There is a distinct red halo or inflammatory area around the central black spot.
- Location: Ticks in Southern Africa often bite on the lower legs or ankles, as seen here.
I then asked Gemini: "Is African tick bite fever common in South Africa right now?" It replied:
Yes, African tick bite fever is very common in South Africa, particularly during this time of year (January).
In South Africa, the risk is not just "present" – it is actually one of the most frequent causes of fever in returning travelers, sometimes even exceeding malaria in certain regions.
It gave a list of reasons why the risk is high right now:
Peak season: The Amblyomma ticks that carry ATBF are most active during the warm, rainy summer months in the Southern Hemisphere, which run from November through April.
Geographic prevalence: It is highly prevalent in rural areas, game reserves (like Kruger National Park) [the Leshiba reserve is only a few hours' drive from Kruger], and livestock-wildlife interface areas across the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo provinces.
Aggressive vectors: Unlike many other ticks that wait for a host to brush by, the Amblyomma ticks in South Africa are "hunters." They actively crawl toward the vibrations and carbon dioxide of humans and animals, often attacking in groups (which is why patients sometimes have multiple bite sores/eschars).
Gemini then detailed the relevance to my dad's case:
Given that your father was recently in South Africa and Kenya (both endemic areas) and is now experiencing fatigue and a mild fever:
It is a top suspect: Medical literature identifies ATBF as the second most common cause of travel-related fever from this region after malaria.
Clusters are common: If he was traveling with a group, it is not unusual for multiple people to come down with it, as these ticks often live in clusters in the grass.
Mild symptoms in the elderly: While it is usually "benign," in an 84-year-old, the standard "flu-like" symptoms can manifest primarily as profound fatigue, which you mentioned he has.
Lastly, it provided a summary for my dad's doctor:
When you speak to his medical team, you can mention that "African tick bite fever is currently in peak season in South Africa" and ask if they can begin a trial of doxycycline while waiting for any test results. Because doxycycline is also used to treat some forms of malaria and other bacterial infections, doctors often start it immediately if they suspect a rickettsial disease in an elderly patient.
BINGO! I was now almost certain that I (and Gemini) had solved the mystery.
Naturally, I then asked Gemini: "How do you treat African tick bite fever?" It replied:
Treatment for African tick bite fever, caused by the bacteria Rickettsia africae, is very effective and straightforward once a diagnosis is suspected. However, because your father is 84 and has just returned from an endemic area, medical supervision is critical.
1. The standard treatment: doxycycline
The "gold standard" treatment for almost all rickettsial infections, including African tick bite fever, is the antibiotic doxycycline.
Standard dosage: Usually 100 mg twice daily for 5 to 7 days.
Speed of recovery: Patients typically see a significant improvement (the fever breaks and fatigue begins to lift) within 24 to 48 hours of starting the first dose.
Important note: Even if he feels better after two days, he must complete the full course prescribed by the doctor to prevent a relapse.
It then gave tips for wound care and special considerations:
2. Wound care
If your father has an eschar (the characteristic small, black-centered sore), it does not usually require special treatment other than keeping it clean with mild soap and water. It is a sign of the infection, not a separate skin condition, and it will heal on its own as the antibiotics work.
3. Special considerations for an 84-year-old
Early intervention: In older adults, rickettsial diseases can occasionally lead to complications like reactive arthritis or, in rare cases, neurological issues if left untreated. Starting the antibiotic early is the best way to prevent these.
Hospitalization: While ATBF is often treated at home, doctors may recommend a short hospital stay for an 84-year-old to monitor for dehydration or "atypical" heart or lung responses to the infection.
Rule out malaria: Crucially, African tick bite fever and malaria can look identical in the early stages. A doctor should never treat for ATBF without also confirming the patient does not have malaria, as the treatments are entirely different.
Lastly, it gave me suggestions of "what to do now":
If you haven't already, take him to an urgent care or emergency room and tell them he has a "fever in a returned traveler from Kenya/South Africa."
Would you like me to help you find the nearest hospital with an infectious disease department or draft a summary of his symptoms for the triage nurse?
I immediately texted everything I'd found to my family and the head doctor at the hospital. The doctor agreed with the assessment and, ironically, had just prescribed doxycycline (even though he hadn't figured out my dad's exact illness).
However, when we checked with the nurse, she said she didn't know anything about this. We asked her to check the computer – and there was the doctor's prescription, which she hadn't yet seen. So she raced to get the doxycycline pills, and my dad took his first one this morning.
We're all now very optimistic that we've correctly diagnosed what has been ailing my dad and have him on the right medicine. We're hoping he'll soon be better and able to go home.
There are so many lessons here...
AI can be a useful – even life-saving – resource, especially when doctors are flummoxed.
My dad's case was an epic fail all around. The doctors should have figured it out within 15 minutes of him arriving at the hospital. All it would have taken was an examination of his body, seeing the eschar, and asking a few simple questions like, "Have you recently been traveling and/or out in the bush?"
But in hindsight, my parents and I should have immediately seen that the eschar was clearly not a bruise and brought it to the doctors' attention. Plus, none of us thought to use AI a week ago! As a result of these multiple failures, my dad has suffered a lot over the past week, both physically and emotionally. And, at times, his life may have been in jeopardy.
This whole episode also demonstrates the interesting paradox of AI. It helped steer us in the right direction in this case, but it's also wrong... a lot.
You shouldn't use Gemini or any other AI as the sole resource to diagnose a condition. If Gemini tells you, "You have Condition X, you should take Drug Y," do not do it. Always consult with a human medical professional.
But as you can see from my story, it's powerful for exploring, brainstorming, and coming up with possibilities. Then you can dig in and bring those ideas to your doctor.
Remember, AI has been trained by reading the entire Internet. It helps take your question and apply it to that knowledge base in a customized way. No amount of traditional googling would've gotten me to African tick bite fever. AI connected the dots.
But it doesn't know what condition you have. So use it wisely.
From an investing standpoint, this was an epic fail by ChatGPT – and a grand slam for Gemini. (Out of curiosity, I entered the same initial inquiry into Grok, which also identified African tick bite fever as the No. 2 possible culprit, and Perplexity, which didn't.)
While this is merely one anecdote, it certainly reinforces my bullish view of Google parent company Alphabet (GOOGL). It has been one of my favorite stocks for more than six years, especially over the past year when I've been pounding the table on it.
It also reinforces my view that Gemini is now far ahead of ChatGPT in the AI race, which makes me even more bearish on privately held OpenAI...
I'll be discussing this further next week (as well as giving an update on my dad's health). So stay tuned!
Best regards,
Whitney
P.S. I welcome your feedback – send me an e-mail by clicking here.