Artificial Intelligence (AI) is currently a widely discussed topic. The use of AI, which is believed to facilitate various human tasks, is increasingly being applied across different fields, including healthcare.
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a collection of technologies implemented in machines or computer systems that enable them to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. The term "artificial intelligence" was first introduced in a paper by mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing, titled Computing Machinery and Intelligence, published in 1950.
Over time, AI has evolved to function by differentiating computer systems based on rationality and human-like thinking. From a human perspective, AI is expected to think and act like humans. However, from a logical standpoint, AI is designed to think and act rationally.
In essence, AI is a field that integrates computer science with large datasets to aid in problem-solving.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
Just as human intelligence is essential in various fields, AI also plays a crucial role in healthcare. AI has significant potential to transform healthcare systems, particularly in patient care, administrative processes, billing, and pharmaceuticals.
Research has shown that AI can perform as well as—or even better than—humans in diagnosing certain diseases. Some machine learning algorithms have surpassed radiologists in detecting malignant tumors and have assisted researchers in forming patient cohorts for expensive clinical trials.
Some of the key applications of AI in healthcare currently being developed include:
1. Assisting in Disease Diagnosis
From the outset, disease diagnosis and therapy have been primary focuses of AI development. AI is being designed to support healthcare professionals in diagnosing diseases more efficiently.
Currently, self-symptom checker features are being developed to help patients assess whether their condition is normal or requires further medical evaluation. AI systems use natural language processing and machine learning to analyze data from medical literature, electronic health records, clinical guidelines, and laboratory reports to generate therapy recommendations.
However, integrating AI-driven diagnostic and treatment recommendations into clinical workflows remains a challenge, and further development is needed to enhance its functionality.
2. Predicting Disease Risks
Given the vast amounts of medical data processed by AI, it is expected to provide accurate predictions about a patient's future health risks. AI-based machine learning models can help identify populations at risk for specific diseases.
Based on these predictive insights, AI can assist doctors and patients in understanding potential health risks and selecting the most appropriate preventive or therapeutic strategies.
3. Enhancing Medical Imaging and Radiology
AI is also being developed to improve radiology and imaging diagnostics. With AI, interpreting certain test results can become faster and more precise. AI systems can be trained to identify specific abnormalities in medical images, such as nodules on a chest CT scan or hemorrhages on a brain MRI. However, developing accurate AI-based image recognition models requires training on vast datasets comprising millions of medical images.
The biggest challenge in implementing AI in healthcare is ensuring its seamless integration into everyday clinical practice. For AI to be widely adopted, it must receive regulatory approval, be incorporated into medical training, and undergo continuous updates to maintain accuracy and reliability.
Experts believe that AI will not replace doctors or nurses on a large scale but will instead complement their roles, allowing them to focus on tasks that require human expertise and decision-making.
If you need medical advice or consultation, you can visit a doctor in person or utilize the consultation features available in the Ai Care application by downloading it from the App Store or Play Store.
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- dr. Pandu Lesmana
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IBM. What is artificial intelligence in healthcare?. Available from: https://www.ibm.com/id-en/topics/artificial-intelligence-healthcare.