Is AI in Healthcare Doomed, or Destined for Greatness?

Abstract

Fully automatic and autonomous medical systems are already released and being used. Nurses and doctors have started adopting the technology to reduce manual work, and to provide more accurate service and impactful interventions to patients. Increased access, better outcomes, reduced costs and more personal and customized healthcare are the promise of AI. But unlike other commercial systems where performance is paramount, in healthcare, patient safety is the primary concern. There is a tremendous drive to capitalize on AI capabilities as soon as possible and as much as possible. However, there is a risk to AI's success. People expect infallibility from AI – far more than they expect from human physicians. As a result, only a few catastrophic events involving AI could spell doom for AI in healthcare.