How Artificial Intelligence Is Democratizing Medicine

Artificial Intelligence-enabled machines are taking over the medical world to aid better access and improved medical treatment. The systems reached a crucial point of development where their capabilities oftentimes match the best of the doctors across the globe. When paired with machine learning, they are learning quicker and faster everyday.

Almost everything from CT scans, MRIs, angiograms to heart surgeries and dental implants, the data captured is becoming digital, helping machines to read and learn from them. Artificial intelligence in medicine enables precision medicines and micro-targeting the right cells with the exact proportion of medicine so its impact is greater. The developments also provide room for personalized medicine – while also giving way for intelligent prosthetics.

Sophia, the humanoid artificial intelligence robot, was developed with the aim of creating a better world for the elderly. The robot, holding Saudi Arabian citizenship, was to cater to the personal needs of senior citizens, thus providing them better access to nursing and healthcare.

What’s more, artificial intelligence’s significance does not just stop with day-to-day healthcare. It’s now moved to transform medical research, clinical developments and importantly, fighting cancer. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 40% of deaths through cancer can be mitigated with the right diagnosis and precision medicine.

Artificial intelligence is now powering better data-driven predictions to forecast if the individual will get cancer, organize the right screenings and adopt the right diagnostic tests. AI’s scope does not stall here. Researchers at the Carnegie Mellon University have mapped a method to use artificial intelligence to interpret medical images that could impact the way doctors approach diseases and dole out treatments.

The researchers behind the study highlighted that almost 80% of treatment is confirmed through medical imaging. With improved imaging machines, hidden patterns that would have otherwise seemed elusive may emerge. A test run for this finding revealed that it was able to predict if an individual will eventually develop osteoarthritis three years in advance, with an accuracy of almost 86%.

With massive progress being clocked by artificial intelligence, a lot of complex and time-consuming tasks for doctors can be taken off their plate. Right now, the need of the hour is to accelerate its adoption as a global effort so its benefits cascade to various geographical zones.