Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a sci-fi concept, considering that computers interact with humans and have the ability to make independent decisions. 

Many of us remember as kids watching the film “2001” and feeling very uncomfortable that the computer—HAL—could take over the ship when threatened and was capable of harming people. 

Today’s AI has developed into complex software that has taken over many of our daily tasks. The software has been adapted to work with many types of industry. Health care is included in this growing list of industrial uses. AI can improve our accuracy and efficiency in making diagnoses, pick up subtle trends in diseases in populations, and aid in medical research.

Engineers and computer developers built the software initially to improve efficiencies in handling large and complex amounts of data. The history of artificial intelligence goes back to Alan Turing in World War II, who worked on the concept of “machine intelligence.” After many starts and stops, by 2017 many companies and universities began intensive research to broaden the uses of artificial intelligence in many areas of daily life. 

There are only two types of AI software in common use today. The first involves reactive machines that have no memory and are task-specific; the output is the same. These machines can process huge amounts of data and give feedback. 

Another type of machine learning can be used to play games, drive cars and converse with people. 

There is no self-awareness in the current artificial intelligence software.

AI and health care

The technology has gradually been introduced to health care facilities and companies to monitor how humans make health care decisions. One type of AI research attempts to duplicate how our brains make decisions (aka deep learning). 

Here are some ways that AI interacts with health care professionals and with patients:

AI can analyze large amounts of health care data. This database is used by public health to provide feedback, guidance and support to physicians and patients in staying healthy.

AI software is used in detecting diseases in earlier stages. A prime example is the scanning of large volumes of mammographies with improved accuracy.

Robots have been used for more than 30 years, especially for doing remote surgery. These robots can also perform routine checking of data that is needed for monitoring chronically ill patients long-term.

Most medical monitoring equipment today that uses AI technology can assist the physician in detecting early disease and life-threatening episodes at earlier treatable stages.

Drug research uses AI software to capture and analyze physical and laboratory results gathered by physicians in their offices.

On a daily basis, we interact with artificial intelligence software when we call parties on the phone or by computer. The current software can handle sophisticated conversations, have facial recognition and drive a car with minimal human involvement.

Current and future uses of artificial intelligence 

There are many academic centers, social media companies and software developers that are looking for ways to improve data recognition—and perhaps, in the future, make medical decisions independently. The average doctor and health care professional today can benefit from the large amount of data that is available, assuming that the data used was accurately and properly gathered, and that the algorithm has been field tested and based on medical observations.

Most of us do not necessarily appreciate the extensive amount of research being performed. We are at a stage of development in which AI research allows the average person to use this software to assist in writing, perform extensive data research and increase the efficiency of doctors and health care professionals in medical documentation of clinical documentation.

In the near future, emergency rooms will use AI to help decide whether a person should be discharged home or admitted—by scoring the data the staff have entered. Again all the known risk factors need to be included in order to make this type of decision valid.

Humans are still making important life decisions concerning our health. However, it is essential that we keep current in what is happening in this field of artificial intelligence. There are a number of ethical decisions to be addressed, especially in the area of who is liable if a decision is made that leads to patient harm—is it the software or the person approving the action?

Sources: 

“4 Types of AI: Getting to Know Artificial Intelligence.” www.coursera.org/articles/types-of-aimsai#  

“Artificial intelligence.” www.Wikipedia.org. 

“Who’s at Fault when AI Fails in Health Care.” www.Stanford.edu