Could AI Have Saved My Mum?

When humans fail us, technology might be the answer…

EVE from Wall-E as AI, and a slightly modified Marie Curie as my mum, in the Cullen house. Photo by author.

My 9-to-5 is to solve problems. I use AI to solve problems in the programs I write, I use AI to help our users get further faster. From the code I write to the output the user gets, generative AI has been part of the solution. I feel more empowered, the user is more satisfied with the product. It’s a win-win, right?

It’s not just another silly generated image, not another Ghibli ripoff or a soulless wannabe column. It’s useful stuff, and if you look closely, you’ll see AI having a positive impact in many areas of life. Far too much of it hype, but some of it is tangible. Not revolutionary, but certainly evolutionary.

But that’s mostly old news. The question I keep asking myself for the last couple of months is: could AI have saved my mum?

Over a year ago, my mother fell into a very deep depression. Everyone close to her tried to help and failed. Religion tried to help and failed. Therapists took her case on only to give up. Psychiatrists did what psychiatrists do — tried every pill combo in the book and failed. Holistic medicine gurus had a crack at her too. Also failed. Every medical machine there was, got to have a metaphorical look at her. Found nothing.