Augmented Ethics: The True Frontier of Augmented Intelligence in Healthcare

Article co-authored by Petar Lazic and Echo Schneider

The Misunderstood Revolution

Artificial Intelligence has captured society's imagination and, in the process, has become an often misunderstood buzzword. Augmented intelligence (AI) is a subset of artificial intelligence that uses technology to help people work smarter and better rather than replacing them.? The nuances between automation, intelligent automation, hyper-automation, and artificial intelligence blur in public discourse, often leading to confusion about the benefits and risks of each.

This confusion is not merely academic – it has real-world implications. Clinicians and patients alike harbor misconceptions about AI, fearing it may lead to the dehumanization of care or increase the likelihood of critical medical errors. While not entirely unfounded, these concerns often stem from a lack of understanding of the technology rather than the technology itself.

The Timely Imperative

Potential disruptions to patient care, organizational structures, and financial models are imminent. Healthcare leaders must act swiftly to shape the narrative and guide implementation.

While sensationalist headlines and the resulting fear focus on AI replacing human judgment, the reality is far more nuanced. For this reason, we must start having deeper conversations about augmented ethics in AI. Because AI is not poised to stand alone but rather to serve as a tool that enhances human capabilities in medical practice, the danger remains human oversight – or lack thereof.

We must understand the opportunities that exist and be prepared to mitigate the human ethical impacts so that we can plan for them and be proactive in our solutions. We need to discuss the opportunities for human failure within technology. For instance, worse than breakdowns from a lack of testing or standardization, issues can arise from theft of likeness, programmed bias, or unintended consequences from attempts to subvert bias.

Where is the Real Concern?

Privacy, not algorithmic bias, emerges as the primary concern with AI. In our rush to pilot AI systems, we must be acutely aware of the pressures from stakeholders and the diverse workforce needed to ensure unprejudiced development and deployment. With robust governance programs to safeguard privacy, we can help avoid eroding the trust essential for AI's success in healthcare. Governance is not just a checkbox but the bedrock of responsible AI integration, ensuring patient data is protected and used ethically.

A Call for Systemic Thinking

We need a paradigm shift to harness AI's potential while mitigating its risks. More is needed to focus on the technology itself; we must develop robust systems and ethical frameworks to guide its use. This includes:

• Comprehensive education for healthcare professionals and the public
• Clear organizational governance models and structures that evolve with the technology
• Rigorous testing protocols involving diverse populations
• Transparent reporting of AI's role in medical decision-making

The Path Forward

As we venture into this new frontier, let us remember that AI in healthcare is neither inherently dangerous nor intrinsically beneficial. Its impact will be determined by the systems we build around it. By focusing on augmented ethics—where human values guide technological advancement—we can ensure that AI becomes a force for good in healthcare.

In this three-part series, we will delve deeper into the concept of human augmentation and its implications for ethics in healthcare AI. The conversation is just beginning, and your voice matters. The challenge with AI lies not in its capabilities but in our ability to responsibly create systems that harness its power. What systems do you believe are crucial for responsible AI integration in healthcare?

In part 2 of this series, we will investigate human augmentation and how this impacts ethics in healthcare AI.