How is Artificial Intelligence shaping the future of healthcare?

After working with an up-and-coming healthcare client towards the end of last year, I was exposed to how the healthcare industry, particularly in the UK, is using AI to improve service delivery. I was intrigued and so recently did a fresh bout of research to see what is happening in this space worldwide.?

Here are six of the most interesting ways in which AI technologies such as machine learning, natural language processing, rule-based expert systems and even physical robots are transforming and shaping the future of healthcare!

Clinical diagnoses

While still in its infancy, there are many exciting developments in this space.?

For example, a Danish AI software company had its deep-learning program listen in while human dispatchers took emergency calls. By analysing what was being said, listening to the tone of voice and background noise, their algorithm detected cardiac arrests with a 93% success rate compared to 73% for humans.

Baidu Research has developed a deep learning algorithm that is outperforming humans in identifying breast cancer metastasis. The use of AI is also enabling mammograms to be reviewed and translated 30 times faster with 99% accuracy.?

Furthermore, a recent study, has shown that AI was able to diagnose cancer more accurately than 58 skin experts. By using images of skin cancer and the corresponding diagnoses, AI beat its human counterpart by achieving a 95% detection rate versus the human doctors' 87%.

Drug development

One of the greatest benefits of AI is its ability to scan data at super-fast speeds. By analysing data from clinical trials, patient health records, genetic records and more, AI could help predict the effect of drugs much quicker, which would lead to better drug trials and drugs being bought to market faster.

Treating Depression

With dramatically increasing rates of depression and poor mental health worldwide, AI’s use in treating these disorders will be life-changing for millions.

California-based MindStrong, has recently announced that they have developed? technology that will pick up the signs of depression and other mental disorders, by analysing how people use their smartphones. Their proprietary technology analyses how people type - their taps, scrolls, and clicks - to predict a range of cognitive traits and mood states.

A trial with a chatbot, called Woebot, was designed according to the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy and results showed that it was effective in treating the disorder with individuals in the study group showing significantly reduced systems of depression.

Brain-computer interfaces

Brain-computer interfaces have the potential to restore fundamental human experience such as speaking, moving and interacting with others, to those whose health has been affected by ALS, strokes, locked-in syndrome and spinal cord injuries.?

End of life care

Artificial intelligence combined with advances in humanoid design will allow for robots to assist with the elderly, they could help the elderly remain independent for longer, reduce the need for care homes and hospitalisation. Imagine a robot that can have a conversation and other social interactions with the elderly, that can help them keep a sharp mind - it is probably not far off.

Coma scales

In a? recent Chinese trial, an AI system that analyses brain scans to determine the severity of coma, scored a higher score than a human doctor. While the doctor’s score indicated a low chance of recovery and would have resulted in the patient’s family being advised to withdraw life support, the AI higher score turned out to be correct and the patient eventually woke up. During the trial AI got 90% of cases right by tracing brain activity invisible to the human eye, such as tiny changes in blood flow to the brain. To date this incredible system has helped diagnose hundreds of patients.

I for one am incredibly excited about these amazing advancements which have the potential to revolutionise healthcare and provide life-changing benefits to millions of people worldwide. I think this is just the beginning and that we have much to look forward to in this space.