We are really on the cusp of the age of artificial intelligence (AI), which is transforming almost every industry, including healthcare. From identifying diseases faster than humans are capable of to matching patients with more accurate treatments, AI is revolutionizing the way we solve health problems. But not everyone thinks it has a positive effect. AI provides both opportunities and challenges, including privacy issues, possible biases, and unforeseen ethical issues.
How AI Is Changing Human Health is one of the most transformative developments of our time.
This post is part of a series about the impact of artificial intelligence on the ways we live, work, and play. This blog will look at the impact on health in humans and the promise, challenges, and realities related to AI in this area. If you want to know how state-of-the-art technology is changing health care (and how it might affect you), let’s continue.
How AI Is Changing Health Care
AI’s power is processing and analyzing huge amounts of data at warp speed. It has made it a game-changer in healthcare when combined with the power of big data, machine learning, and robotics. Here’s how AI is revolutionizing healthcare:
Detecting Diseases More Quickly and Accurately
AI-based tools like image recognition algorithms are aiding doctors in diagnosing conditions — including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease — earlier and more accurately. For instance:
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DeepMind, Google’s AI arm, has created a system that can identify more than 50 types of eye disease as accurately as the world’s top specialists.
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AI-enabled tools such as Enlitic and PathAI scan medical scans to detect abnormalities in less time than human radiologists.
Early diagnosis can save countless lives. So early detection can make a huge difference — with cancer, a survival difference of 10 percent or more.
Personalized Medicine
The era of one-size-fits-all treatments is over. Artificial intelligence-based programs use genetics, lifestyle, and medical history from pre-existing patients to design care plans for patients specific to such a plan and apply them to new cases. For example:
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IBM Watson Health taps AI to suggest a range of treatment options for cancer patients based on their medical data and cancer research.
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AI algorithms like Tempus leverage genomic sequencing to provide targeted cancer therapies.
This customization is not only saving lives, it is also saving money by eliminating ineffective treatments.
Pharmaceutical Discovery and Development
New drugs are being made faster with the help of AI, which pharma companies are using to analyze complex sets of data. On average, it costs more than 10 years and billions of dollars to take a new drug to market. But the timeline is already being cut sharply with AI.
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Companies such as Insilico Medicine and Atomwise use AI to discover potential drug compounds in a fraction of the time it takes standard research methods.
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During the COVID-19 crisis, AI systems rapidly considered potential treatments and vaccines.
The increased efficiency has not only saved time but also increased access to life-saving drugs.
Step up Support Around Mental Health
When examining how AI is changing human health, mental wellness support is a growing area of interest.
AI applications are also expanding in the mental health care space. VCs and chatbots leverage NLP to help users with anxiety, stress, and depression.
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Woebot: An AI-powered chatbot, Woebot uses cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) methods to help you manage stress and feel better.
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Artificial intelligence-based platforms like Ginger provide on-demand mental health care, connecting users to therapists on demand or recommending resources based on the symptoms users have shared.
In doing so, AI is filling a gap for undiagnosed and untreated mental health, a historically underdeveloped field of medicine.
Robotics in Surgery
AI-driven robotic systems are aiding surgeons during delicate procedures, resulting in fewer complications and faster recovery times for the patients. For complex surgeries (e.g., spinal or neurosurgery) these systems could potentially complement human dexterity and accuracy.
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One of the most famous medical robots is the da Vinci Surgical System, which allows the doctor to perform surgeries with minimal invasion, with the aid of AI.
Introduction: Robot-assisted surgery minimizes post-operative complications and shortens hospital duration, which are associated with high patient satisfaction.
AI in robotics is not only changing what occurs in the operating room, but also what happens to the patient.
The Difficulties of AI in Health Care
Although AI offers immense opportunities, it also comes with its own set of challenges. It is important to understand these impediments in order to build an innovative and responsible healthcare ecosystem.
Privacy and Security Concerns
AI needs lots of data to be effective; it needs to see lots of patients’ data, which is very sensitive. This has also raised ethical questions over the privacy of data.
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Attacks on health care systems can result in the hacking of private medical records, which can have lasting implications for those affected.
The balance to be drawn between utilizing data for AI innovation and the privacy of patients is a key issue.
Bias in AI Algorithms
AI systems are as unbiased as the data on which they are trained. If the information is based on social or institutional prejudices, the software can generate unfair results.
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For instance, research has found that some AI products used in dermatology, for example, may be less accurate at diagnosing certain conditions in patients with darker skin.
These biases can be addressed by employing more representative datasets and a strict auditing of AI applications.
Ethical Concerns
AI presents ethical dilemmas about the role of technology in determining life-or-death decisions. For example:
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Should we trust AI to be impartial in such cases as organ transplant prioritization?
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Who is responsible if an A.I. system screws up?
Navigating these ethical waters will require strong regulation and guidelines, developed in consultation with AI developers, clinicians, and ethicists.
The Future of AI in Healthcare
The future of AI in healthcare, however, remains promising, even if it still has hurdles to clear. Here are some of the technologies the report says are poised to redefine the industry over the next 10 years:
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Quantum computing
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Advanced robotics
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Exascale computing
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AI with wearable devices
Telemedicine’s growth: AI will enhance virtual healthcare visits to be more personalized and effective, thus increasing the accessibility of remote or underserved communities.
Predictive healthcare: AI-enabled tools will assist in predicting outbreaks, diseases, and patient needs, allowing for proactive rather than reactive care.
AI wearables: Picture smartwatches that are capable of picking up the earliest signs of a heart attack or tracking blood sugar levels without a hitch. AI-enabled wearables are poised to usher in a new era of preventative care.
Last Word on AI and Human Health
AI is revolutionising healthcare with clear advantages and challenges. It is no doubt making diagnostics, treatments, and access to care better, but there are ethical issues to consider in developing and implementing the technology.
All the health benefits that AI is capable of generating are huge, but those benefits will not be realized without vigilance, deliberate planning, and industry-wide cooperation. Whether you are interested in keeping up or ready to look into AI solutions that can impact your life or business, keep up with the developments in this fast-moving space.
