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AI in Medicine: How to Navigate the Promises and Pitfalls

Artificial intelligence (AI) is taking the world by storm. Chances are you’ve seen countless headlines touting its potential to transform everything—from business to entertainment.

While many might roll their eyes at the thought of yet another technological advancement that we all have to adapt to, there’s one area where AI is making waves that are hard to ignore: the medical community.

AI is like a smart computer that can do tasks usually done by humans, such as recognizing patterns and making decisions.

In medicine, AI is helping doctors diagnose diseases and find the best treatments for their patients.

For example, AI has been used to:

  • Spot skin cancer as well as human experts
  • Identify patients with sepsis (a life-threatening response to infection) faster
  • Improve the accuracy of medical imaging, like X-rays and CT scans

These are exciting developments, but there are also some concerns about using AI in medicine. Many of these AI systems haven’t been tested enough in real-world situations, and we don’t know enough about how doctors and patients feel about using them.

A recent study looked at 86 different AI systems used in medicine. It found that AI can help with things like:

  • Adjusting insulin doses for people with diabetes
  • Monitoring low blood pressure
  • Reducing the need for urgent care
  • Improving communication between cancer doctors and their patients

The study also found that most of the AI research has been done in specialized areas like gut health, radiology, surgery, and heart health. There hasn’t been as much research on using AI in primary care, which is the kind of care most seniors receive from their regular doctors.

Another issue is that most of the studies have been done in just a few countries, mainly the United States and China. We need more research involving a variety of countries and healthcare systems to make sure these AI tools work well for everyone.

As we move forward with AI in medicine, it’s important to be excited about the possibilities but also careful about the risks. We need more testing and studies to confirm these AI systems are safe and effective. We also need to make sure they fit with what patients and doctors need and want.

The future of medicine is exciting, and with the right approach, AI can play an important role in keeping us all healthier as we age.

You can read more about the new advancements in AI and medicine here, in the April 2024 issue of the Health Science Institute’s newsletter. Not yet a subscriber? Click the button below to learn more about becoming one.

To a future where AI and human expertise work hand in hand,

Rachel Mace
Managing Editorial Director, e-Alert
with contributions from the research team

Sources:

Paolo Spriano. (2024). How Does AI Fit Into Clinical Practice? https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/how-does-ai-fit-clinical-practice-2024a10009hu

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Dr. Allan Spreen, Chief Medical Advisor

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