The evolving role of AI in improving healthcare

AI and healthcare: A promising union

The transformational power of technology in varied sectors is fascinating. Of these, I believe, the most transformative are those we see in healthcare. While the industry, even today, suffers from a severe disparity in the availability and accessibility of resources, a number of these challenges can be addressed by leveraging technology.  

AI has the potential to radically morph this sector. We are witnessing the rise of solutions that not only reduce the burden of diagnosis but also helps extend optimum medical infrastructure across demographics.

Intel has been a pioneer in the field of disruptive technologies. It has developed several AI-driven healthcare solutions. Paving the path for the healthcare-AI revolution, Intel has empowered medical infrastructures across the globe with intelligent imaging and diagnostic support, predictive analysis, lab automation, and robotics support. And, in the process, the company has been able to impact millions of lives. 

A-(Eye)-Care: How AI is helping eliminate preventable blindness

India is considered the diabetic capital of the world and is predicted to reach 98 million cases by 2030. A common complication of the illness is a gradual decline in vision due to damage caused to the retina, called Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). It is a leading cause of blindness in adults and is totally preventable if diagnosed in time. 

Sankara Eye Foundation and Singapore-based Leben Care, along with Intel, have been working towards eliminating preventable and curable blindness across India and are leveraging a cloud-based AI diagnostic system, Netra.AI. 

Netra.AI uses multiple Intel Xeon Scalable Processors to identify retinal conditions in a very short span of time, with the accuracy of a trained medical professional. So far, Netra.AI has been able to diagnose over 700 at-risk patients from 3,000+ screenings, with a mind-blowing detection accuracy of 98.5%. The software can identify unhealthy retinas from healthy ones and offer prompt reports.

An AI-powered, robot-armed wheelchair

More than 75 million people in the world require a wheelchair for mobility. It is common for people with spinal injuries to face challenges in simple daily activities such as holding a cup or eating with a spoon. Assistive robotics can come to the rescue here. Intel and Accenture have come together to support the Intel Neuromorphic research community to assist wheelchair-bound pediatric patients. 

Open University is working with Intel’s neuromorphic technology to build a wheelchair for patients with spinal injuries that would be fitted with robotic arms and can assist them in performing day-to-day activities with ease. Currently, in the prototyping stages, the device will team up Intel’s and algorithmic support from Applied Brain Research (ABR) with Accenture’s funding and technological support to revolutionize the lives of people with disabilities, significantly.

Visual assistance system for the visually impaired

The World Health Organization estimates that globally 285 million people are visually impaired. So far, GPS-based systems, voice-assisted smartphone apps, and camera-enabled walking sticks have tried to offer some support, but they lack the depth and sophistication necessary for independent navigation. 

Jagdish K. Mahendran built an AI-powered, voice-activated backpack to help many like his visually impaired friend navigate the world.  Mahendran used Intel’s AI technology to build a device that could utilize the existing GPS and AI imaging technologies to detect challenges such as traffic signs, moving objects, and crosswalks. A Bluetooth-enabled earphone lets the user interact with the system via voice queries and commands, and the system responds with verbal information.

Fairly simplistic in its design, the device is built using Intel AI technology and Luxunos OAK-D spatial camera. Once produced for the masses, the device would be able to help an important segment of the population gain freedom of movement like never before. 

A promising future?

AI in healthcare is a revolution that is here to stay. Not only is the technology helpful in supporting individuals impacted by medical conditions, but also in relieving the burden of medical staff, thereby allowing them to attend to more patients. Faster and smarter processors are being used to develop solutions that can make several healthcare processes faster and more accurate. 

However, it must be remembered that the software offers support to the existing medical infrastructure and does not replace professional expertise. By embracing these ever-evolving technologies, medical communities can now extend their benefits to patient populations and medical professionals alike.