When veterinarians repeatedly dismissed his dog's symptoms as a rash, Sydney-based AI consultant Paul Conyngham took matters into his own hands, embarking on an unprecedented journey that would combine artificial intelligence, genomic sequencing, and experimental medicine to fight his pet's terminal cancer.
Conyngham's eight-year-old rescue dog Rosie was eventually diagnosed with mast cell cancer in 2024 after nearly a year of misdiagnosis. Facing mounting medical costs and limited treatment options after trying chemotherapy, standard immunotherapy, and surgery, Conyngham turned to AI chatbots for guidance.
I would have conversations and just keep them going non-stop
Paul Conyngham — Straits Times
Using ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok, Conyngham dove deep into cancer research, studying emerging treatments including mRNA vaccines. Following the AI's recommendations, he invested $3,000 to have Rosie's genome sequenced and used the same tools to analyze her DNA data.
The AI consultant then employed AlphaFold, the Nobel Prize-winning scientific AI model, to better understand one of Rosie's mutated genes. ChatGPT also helped him identify researchers at the University of New South Wales who could bring his theoretical work into reality.
The outlet presents the story as a remarkable case study of AI application in veterinary medicine. It focuses on the technical aspects and the attention the story has received from OpenAI's leadership.
The publication frames the story positively as an example of AI's potential in medical research. It emphasizes the successful outcome while including appropriate scientific caveats from researchers.
The experimental approach appears to have yielded remarkable results. Rosie received a custom mRNA vaccine along with powerful immunotherapy in December, and her cancer is now in partial remission with her largest tumor showing dramatic shrinkage.
She regained a lot of mobility and function
Paul Conyngham — Straits Times
The story has captured international attention, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman calling it an amazing story on social media platform X. However, the researchers involved emphasize the experimental nature of the treatment and caution against viewing it as a definitive cure.
This was not a clinical trial by any means
Martin Smith, Professor — Straits Times
Professor Martin Smith from UNSW, who sequenced Rosie's genome, credits Conyngham's determination as the driving force behind the project. He notes that the combination of genome sequencing, artificial intelligence, and RNA therapeutics represents a convergence of disruptive technologies that offers new possibilities for medical research.
The case highlights AI's potential to accelerate medical research and democratize access to cutting-edge scientific tools. Conyngham and Rosie have resumed their long daily walks, a testament to the dog's improved condition and her owner's unwavering dedication to finding innovative solutions through technology.