Pulmonologist says AI matched his pneumonia diagnosis in seconds, jokes about applying to McDonald’s
DUBAI — In a striking example of artificial intelligence’s growing role in healthcare, a Dubai-based pulmonologist has made headlines after revealing that AI was able to replicate his medical diagnosis in seconds — a process that took him two decades to master.
Dr. Mohammad Fawzi Katranji, a seasoned critical care and sleep medicine specialist with 18 years of experience, took to Instagram to share a candid and slightly humorous reaction to AI’s diagnostic prowess. In a now-viral video, he demonstrates how an AI tool analyzed an X-ray scan and identified signs of pneumonia in the exact same spots he had just pointed out.
‘I’m about to lose my job’
“So I am about to lose my job. This is scary because I developed a skill over 20 years that lets me look at an X-ray and point to pneumonia,” Katranji says, as he examines a chest X-ray on screen.
Moments later, he flips the screen to show the same image analyzed by the AI software. The tool highlights two areas — precisely the regions Katranji had flagged — confirming the presence of pneumonia.
“Now, here comes AI, and it points it out in a second,” he continues. “So, you don’t need professional eyes to look at these X-rays; you just used artificial intelligence. So, I am going to be applying to McDonald’s soon, and I hope they have some openings.”
The shifting future of diagnostics
Katranji’s tongue-in-cheek reaction underscores a very real shift underway in the medical field, as AI-driven tools rapidly advance in diagnostic capabilities. Radiology and diagnostic imaging have been among the first specialties to see AI make significant inroads, with software now able to detect a range of conditions — from pneumonia to tumors — faster and, in some cases more accurately than human professionals.
What makes Katranji’s video so compelling is not just the technology’s speed, but the emotional weight behind his words: the unease of a veteran doctor confronting a future where decades of training could be matched, or even replaced, by algorithms in seconds.
A wake-up call, not a punchline
While Katranji’s mention of applying to McDonald’s is clearly made in jest, his demonstration has sparked serious discussion online about the evolving relationship between technology and medical expertise. Experts emphasize that while AI can assist in diagnosis, it is far from ready to replace doctors altogether. Human judgment, ethical reasoning, and holistic patient care remain areas where AI still lags behind.
Nonetheless, Katranji’s video has become a powerful reminder of how quickly AI is transforming not only how medicine is practiced, but how practitioners perceive their own roles in the profession.
As the boundaries between machine learning and medical practice continue to blur, one thing is certain: the future of healthcare will require not just smarter machines but also more adaptable humans.
