ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

AI in medicine refers to the use of artificial intelligence technology / automated processes in the diagnosis
and treatment of patients who require care. Whilst diagnosis and treatment may seem like simple steps,
there are many other background processes that must take place in order for a patient to be properly taken
care of, for example:

 Gathering of data through patient interviews and tests

 Processing and analysing results
 Using multiple sources of data to come to an accurate diagnosis
 Determining an appropriate treatment method (often presenting options)
 Preparing and administering the chosen treatment method
 Patient monitoring
 Aftercare, follow-up appointments etc.
How is artificial intelligence used in medicine?
There is already an incredible amount of technology and automation in play in medicine, whether we
realise it or not - medical records are digitised, appointments can be scheduled online, patients can check
in to health centres or clinics using their phones or computers. As technology usage has increased in all
areas of life, so too has it quietly changed the ways in which we seek medical care.
For example, Futurism lists the following examples of AI already being used in medicine today:

 Decision support systems - When given a set of symptoms, DXplain comes up with a list of

possible diagnoses
 Laboratory information systems - Germwatcher is designed to detect, track and investigate
infections in hospitalised patients
 Robotic surgical systems - The da Vinci robotic surgical system, with robotic arms, precise
movement and magnetised vision, allows doctors to precision surgery that wouldn’t be possible
with an entirely manual approach
 Therapy - AI Therapy is an online course for people struggling with social anxiety
 Reducing human error - Babylon is an online application where patients in the UK can book
appointments and routine tests, plus consult with a doctor online, check for symptoms, get advice,
monitor their health and order test kits
What does AI mean for the future of doctors?
Machines lack human qualities such as empathy and compassion, and therefore patients must perceive
that consultations are being led by human doctors. Furthermore, patients cannot be expected to
immediately trust AI; a technology shrouded by mistrust