The 21st century has confirmed the intersection between medicine and artificial intelligence. Nick Bostrom on the question: will artificial intelligence be evil? He responded:’‘Hopefully it will not be! But it turns out that most final goals an artificial agent might have would result in the destruction of humanity and almost everything we value,if the agent were capable enough to fully achieve those goals.”
The emergence of new technologies in the heath sector raises issues of trust,due to the fact that the medical sector or public health deals with life. According to John McCathy ”AI is science and engineering of making intelligent machine…”, medicine has long been using machines with the aim to facilitate, understand, and elucidate complex pathologies both in daignostic and therapeutic purposes, even in assisting medical personnel than playing the first role.
Some of the common sectors making use of AI are:
Medical Imaging: Medical personnel make use of X-rays, computed tomograph scan (CT Scan), Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and more using AI to generate image, differentiate body tissue, producing different contrast for different tissue. For example, the detention of fracture by X-ray and tumor by CT Scan. Over time AI systems have been upgraded from Rule-based computing where machines were following man-made rules to Deep learning, where the machine is able to use recorded data of cases to be able to generate accurate diagnosis and to establish similarities. This incorporates different technology, high quality image production and updated hardware system.
In cardiology: The Eletrocardiogram (ECG) from the oldest version already used automated interpretation in order to diagnose pathologies like arrythmias. From the old ECG to a new and portable ECG, with upgraded systems having more accuracy and capacity to predict future pathologies from present ones.
In sport medicine: The use of wearable devices to count steps like pedometer and reveal approximated calories lost during specific types of activities. An example, is the apple watch which is able to evaluate heart rate, step count and calories.
In nutrition: There are now applications (Apps) which can evaluate the glycemic index or calories of certain food with precision just with a picture of the food, which are very useful in the management of certain chronic diseases like diabetes.
In surgery: With focus on robotic surgery, AI system reduces tremor of surgeon and thus minimizing the risk of bleeding complication and improving precisions. It also offers real time guidance in anatomy during surgery (laparoscopic surgery).
Endocrinology: Particularly in diabetology with the use of new devices capable of monitoring glycemia of patient H24 and able to signal pick variation of glycemia, reminding the latter the time to take his/her drug and/or insulin administration.
Many other domains in medicine use artificial intelligence, with great impact and which the elaboration will be enormous. It is also important to note that Africa, compare to other continents is still lagging with the use and assistance of AI in many domains particularly in medicine. Most AI machines or algorithms use re still Rule-base computing, and thus still relying on clinician’s perspectives, increasing clinician’s workload. The progressive urbanization in Africa will surely lead to the effective use of new technology- based AI.
