Information and Communication Technology has been developing and advancing very rapidly over the years. One important development is the Artificial Intelligence which we now see in all aspects of our livesWe are confronted with AI applications every day from smart phones to tablets, laptops, doors opening by itself when one approaches, lights coming on when one enters a room, hallway, industrial robots, robot waiters, self-driving cars and on and on.
AI is not one technology or program but a collection of many. Even though the machines, robots are serving us, it is the humans who developed the technology, draw up the programs, instructions which are then fed to them. When they receive the respective cue the machines will carry out the activities as programmed. Hence, their service to humanity. We have to understand that humans are the ones who develop the technologies and programs for the machines to function.
We can now see AI applications and usage everywhere. Healthcare is no exception. AI is involved indiagnosis, and providing advice for treatment of patients. Some say AI can give more accurate diagnosis of cancer based on radio-imaging. But, the attending doctor will still have to decide how to proceed. The input from AI will be one factor he will have to consider among many others. That is to say the final decision lies with the doctor than the machine.
There is a place for AI in healthcare and it should be a supporting role rather than a decision making one. Machines are now examining blood slides in pathology laboratories and providing reports which the pathologist have to confirm before they are released. These machines provide valuable support to the pathologists. AI may also provide suggestions for treatment approaches, which may be of great help to the doctor. But, the final decision will rest with the doctor again.
Ethical issues will also be involved in use of AI in healthcare, mainly accountability, transparency, informed decision and privacy. Human body as we all know is very complex. Nothing can be taken for granted and how each patient will respond to disease and its treatment may vary. Can the AI be programed to consider ALL variations? It will indeed be very challenging to do so even if it is possible.
In conclusion, it had to be reiterated that it is the humans who created the AI who will have to make the final decision especially in healthcare. AI machines replacing humans may, a big may, come at the later stages of evolution but not for many years, if not decades, to come.
