Leaders | Health technology

The AI doctor will see you…eventually

Artificial intelligence holds huge promise in health care. But it also faces massive barriers

A doctor with a computer-screen head displaying a loading icon
image: Timo Lenzen

Better diagnoses. Personalised support for patients. Faster drug discovery. Greater efficiency. Artificial intelligence (AI) is generating excitement and hyperbole everywhere, but in the field of health care it has the potential to be transformational. In Europe analysts predict that deploying AI could save hundreds of thousands of lives each year; in America, they say, it could also save money, shaving $200bn-360bn from overall annual medical spending, now $4.5trn a year (or 17% of GDP). From smart stethoscopes and robot surgeons to the analysis of large data sets or the ability to chat to a medical AI with a human face, opportunities abound.

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This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “The AI doctor will see you…eventually”

From the March 30th 2024 edition

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