Why health care AI can’t replace medicine’s human component

Feb 24, 2020News

The AMA deliberately uses the term augmented intelligence (AI)—rather than the more common term “artificial intelligence”—when referring to machine-learning computer algorithms that hold the potential to produce dramatic breakthroughs for health care research, population health risk-stratification and diagnostic support.

“In health care, machines are not acting alone but rather in concert and in careful guidance with humans, i.e., us—physicians,” said AMA Board of Trustees Chair Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH. “There is and will continue to be a human component to medicine, which cannot be replaced. AI is best optimized when it is designed to leverage human intelligence.”

“Over the past decade, we have all learned about how we can incorporate new innovations into clinical practice,” Dr. Ehrenfeld said in his presentation. “Genetics, genomics, the electronic health record and digital medicine have all raised similar policy issues around innovation, incentive payments, regulation, liability, sufficiency of infrastructure, training and professional development.”

The chief lesson to be taken from these experiences is to settle these policy issues before expecting physicians to fit the technology into their workflow. Otherwise, the disruption will be chaotic to practices and adoption challenging, he said.

Citing the current focus of research and investment dollars, Dr. Ehrenfeld said the key areas of AI growth will be in diagnostic tools and health care administration.

The original article can be found here.

According to AIWS Innovation Network, AI can be a force for helping people achieve well-being and happiness, and solve important issues, such as SDGs.