Breaking Boundaries: What science and AI can do for people and the planet

In the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) has surfaced as a powerful force, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in patient care. Transforming the future of healthcare by unlocking the power of what science can do — for people, society, and the planet — requires trust.

As a purpose-driven organization inspiring trust for a more resilient world, BSI believes AI can be a force for good, changing lives, making a positive impact on society, and accelerating progress in healthcare by improving patient care and quality of life.

• 56 percent globally support AI tools for diagnosis or treatment, leveraging the ability to identify data patterns for predicting and preventing diseases.
• 85 percent of healthcare executives have an AI strategy in place.
• The global healthcare AI market size could approach $188 billion by 2030.

AI allows opportunities to lessen human error, help healthcare professionals, and deliver essential services to patients . As these tools advance, they could play a larger role in understanding medical images like X-rays and scans, diagnosing conditions, planning treatments, and even foreseeing certain pharmaceutical overdose mortality .?

AI systems for healthcare settings need to be strictly evaluated to make sure they meet sufficient quality, safety, and ethical standards. BS 30440:2023? is a new British standard that synthesizes a wide body of information on assessing AI in healthcare into an actionable and informative framework. This can guide suppliers as they develop AI systems for healthcare, and – because the standard presents a set of auditable clauses – can be used to conduct conformity audits that lead to certification.

Another standard that’s imperative in shaping trust regarding healthcare is ISO/IEC 42001 - Information Technology Artificial Intelligence Management System. This provides a certifiable AI management system framework within which products can be developed as part of an assurance ecosystem. This can help businesses and society get the most benefit from AI, while also reassuring stakeholders that systems are developed responsibly. Training is also offered to help clients understand how this standard can impact and contribute to their company.

AI doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It involves organizational change with the model predictions often tightly coupled to decision-making processes. It is this systemization of AI that fuels its transformative power of scaling operations, but, when these decisions directly impact human lives, we are at risk of climbing consequences of coded discrimination. For example, in 2019 it was found that prioritizing patients based on their health risk?perpetuated inequalities by prioritizing healthcare for the privileged?at the expense of constraining access for marginalized communities.

This shows why the input data and the model outputs must be examined critically under an ethical lens to recognize its limitations and define the situations within which a model’s performance is sufficient and can be rolled out at scale.

Establishing responsibility in the complex decision-making pathways of AI use is difficult, especially under unexpected circumstances or unintended outcomes that lead to medical error or harm. Fostering transparency during the AI development and deployment lifecycle and instilling accountability by identifying responsible parties for adverse events is imperative to alleviate these concerns. To learn more on the ethical considerations surrounding AI, read Ethical considerations of AI in healthcare by Shusma Balaji, Data Scientist, BSI.

AI systems should complement, not replace, the judgment and expertise of healthcare providers, and patients should always retain the right to make decisions about their care. A patient’s right to privacy and security of their personal health information shouldn’t infringe on their right to healthcare. Upholding individual human rights, such as access to treatment, shouldn’t mandate the patient being processed by an algorithm.

AI is a promising technology that aids in certain data analysis and prediction of results, promoting the well-being of people. The healthcare system is engaging more with AI to help doctors predict and diagnose a variety of diseases.?Every patient is different, and individualized care may not always be possible. AI can compare various treatments, conditions, and outcomes by using data from various patients with similar complaints. This could enable a customized approach, promoting opportunities for efficiency, precision, and patient-centric care, including mental health care.

Mental health is just as important as your physical health. AI chatbot use boosts engagement, loyalty, and reduces comorbid anxiety and depression symptoms , as measured by standard scores, with comparable improvements in physical capabilities.

Utilizing AI can advance the boundaries of medical research and bring in a new era of fostering responsible innovation. However, it needs diligent governance and a commitment to always prioritizing patients, in all ways. By embedding these principles early in the design phase, institutions can support conscientious innovation, promoting the secure application of AI while safeguarding patients' rights and enhancing overall care delivery.