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Is Artificial Intelligence really coming for your job? Or your doctor’s job? Or is it simply going to be a tool that will help you diagnose an illness quickly and easily? The integration of Artificial Intelligence in the medical field is not just revolutionising; it's reshaping how diagnoses are made, enhancing the precision and efficiency of medical care. However, while AI stands to offer significant advancements, it's crucial to understand its role and limitations in healthcare.

AI and diagnostics

The use of AI in all aspects of human life has exploded in the past few years. Everything from famous writing tools like ChatGPT, selfie-editing software on smartphones, and code editing software are being used daily to make people’s lives easier. Writers who experience writer’s block can use AI to help them create new stories.

The healthcare industry is no exception and has also seen a significant uptake in AI usage. The biggest advantage of AI is the ability to analyse large volumes of data quickly while eliminating the possibility of human error. AI-driven tools, like Automated Retinal Disease Assessment (ARDA) by Google, can help clinicians detect diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness.

AI should never replace a doctor

No matter how impressive or advanced an AI system or software becomes, it cannot and should never replace a doctor. Instead, it should only be used to enhance their ability to diagnose and treat patients. An AI system can act like a second opinion, helping a doctor spot something they might have missed or to confirm their initial diagnosis.

Google’s AI-powered dermatology assist tools can analyse images of skin conditions using something available to many people – smartphone cameras.

AI tools can also analyse the enormous amounts of electronic health data to predict disease risks based on patterns that may not be apparent to people. This makes it an invaluable preventative medicine tool. Doctors can then advise patients on lifestyle adjustments they need to make to avoid chronic health problems like diabetes or heart disease.

AI – Limitations and responsibilities

However, with great power comes great responsibility. Relying on AI to diagnose is an accident waiting to happen. One of the biggest challenges AI systems currently face is training biases, where too much or too little data from one ethnic group can skew how it learns and the answers it can give.

Self-diagnosis – A slippery slope

It's also crucial to address the temptation to use AI for self-diagnosis. With a plethora of health-related AI apps and online tools available, it might be tempting to bypass the doctor’s visit and seek answers from AI. However, these tools should not be seen as replacements for professional medical advice. While they can provide information based on symptoms, they lack the critical human touch, nuanced understanding, and comprehensive analysis provided by a trained physician.

The future of AI in diagnostics

Dismissing the role of AI, and the benefits it offers is a short-sighted decision. As the technology advances, AI systems improve, become more accurate, and enhance its capabilities. The most important thing is how we use it, and how we train it. With a little bit of luck, and a lot of hard work, AI might just be the one tool we need to help us solve some of the most pressing problems in medicine.

References:

Using AI to help find answers to common skin conditions. Google Health. 2021. Available here.

Revolutionizing Healthcare: How is AI being Used in the Healthcare Industry? Los Angeles Pacific University. 2023. Available here.

AI-Powered Diagnostics: The Future Of Early Disease Detection And Prevention. Emerging India Analytics on Linkedin. Available here.

Revolutionizing healthcare: the role of artificial intelligence in clinical practice. BMC Medical Education. 2023. Available here.

Using AI to prevent blindness. Google Health. Accessed 2024. Available here.