BALANCE AI, HUMAN INTELLIGENCE FOR BETTER HEALTHCARE

AI is improving diagnostics, treatment and systems in healthcare. But data glitches and privacy issues make its full adoption risky. It's also no substitute for human empathy

- K SRINATH REDDY

THIS is as big a game-changing innovation in human history as fire and electricity," declared a speaker at a recent international conference on the future of healthcare, well-being and longevity. He was referring to artificial intelligence (AI). At that conclave, great hope was placed on technology as a transformational force for improving access, affordability and quality of healthcare delivery globally, with AI as the major propellant of that progress.

AI has already started making its presence felt in many areas of healthcare. The rush to extend its use to the whole spectrum of healthcare is spurred by several expectations: improved diagnostic and prognostic assessment; accurate risk prediction models for personalised healthcare and 'precision' public health interventions; better design and delivery of treatment protocols; relief from laborious documentation for doctors and nurses; increased efficiency of hospital management and health insurance systems; engaging interactions with patients; creation of 'virtual medical assistants'; enhanced quality and pace of medical research; and sped up design and development of new therapeutic agents.

The ability to predict the probability of developing cardiac rhythm abnormalities like intermittent atrial fibrillation from seemingly normal electrocardiograms has been a remarkable advance. People with such undetected arrhythmias are at a higher risk of blood clots developing in the heart and dislodging to travel and block blood supply to other organs. Prescribing blood thinners to such people is helpful in preventing debilitating brain strokes or cerebral embolisms.