Artificial Intelligence is rapidly becoming more common in our everyday lives. From education, finance, transportation, and even entertainment, AI is transforming industries around the world. The change it is creating in healthcare is drastic, bringing both significant benefits and challenges that are worth the talk.
Healthcare systems have become way more efficient due to AI. Tasks like billing, spam e-mails, scheduling, check-in solutions, and managing patient data can all be handled by automated systems. This creates more time for employees to work on other tasks and effectively use their time.
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AI algorithms can use Target Identification to analyze datasets and identify active and/or potential diseases that can later be regulated by drugs. These models then speed up the drug discovery process by predicting how different molecules interact with each other.
Existing drugs can also be analyzed by AI to find if there are any other purposes for them.
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Drugs like Doxycycline, Baricitinib, and Thalidomide were repurposed due to the use of Artificial Intelligence. Baricitinib, which was initially used to suppress the immune system, was later repurposed to treat COVID-19. The AI model examined multiple factors such as the viral replication process, the drug’s mechanism of action, and the body’s immune response.
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Diagnosis
Medical imaging often detects abnormalities like tumors, fractures, or diseases quicker than human radiologists and in earlier stages. This speeds up the decision-making process and reduces diagnostic errors. These algorithms can also enhance image quality, which makes it easier to detect unusual activity in the body.
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Contrast adjustments can optimize the contrast of an image to spot things like internal bleeds or microbleeds, fractures, and more.
Personalization
AI can tailor treatments for patients to their medical history, lifestyle, and genetics. This leads to more effective treatments with fewer side effects. These systems can also predict future health risks which can be used for preventive measures.
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AI-based biomarkers are being used to enhance the accessibility of personalized medicine by providing quick, cost-effective substitutes for traditional molecular biomarkers. This guides treatment decisions and monitors response to medical treatments.
Privacy
Since AI handles large amounts of sensitive health data, there is always a risk of data leakage, misuse, and exfiltration. According to IBM Technology, “With more sensitive data being collected, stored, and transmitted than ever before, the odds are greater that at least some of it will be exposed or deployed in ways that infringe on privacy rights.” Due to the massive growth and collection of datasets in AI, hackers are getting more and more intrigued.
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A problem has been recently discovered with LinkedIn users noticing they were automated into allowing their data to train generative AI models. This created a huge problem, and Microsoft faced a lawsuit of $1,000 per person whose rights were violated.
Job Displacement
Due to the increased use of AI for administration, medical imaging, and other tasks, there has been a decrease in healthcare employees. According to Tebra, The Intake, “28% of healthcare employees reported layoffs in their workplaces in the past year. 18% of healthcare managers blame artificial intelligence (AI) integration for these layoffs.”
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Because of AI, the loss of healthcare professionals could lead to a shift in required skills in healthcare. Pranav Rajpurkar says, “As generalist medical AI systems take on more routine tasks, healthcare professionals will shift towards higher-level decision-making and patient care. They will spend less time on administrative tasks and more time applying their expertise to complex cases that require nuanced judgment.”
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As teenagers living through these great technological advancements, it is essential to understand that these changes are not just affecting the present but also our future. Whether you are looking for a job in AI or healthcare or just trying to gain a greater understanding of the world around you, it is important to be conscious of the impact AI has not only in healthcare but in all our lives.
Growing up in this generation, it is important to consider how AI will affect your career choices. As machine learning and automation continue to grow, the demand for professionals in AI will also grow. Whether you choose a future in healthcare, medicine, technology, or more, the understanding of Artificial Intelligence will play a part in preparing for the evolving job market.
Sources:
https://nanostring.com/blog/why-do-we-need-biomarkers/
https://www.ibm.com/think/insights/ai-privacy
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxevpzy3yko
https://cdio.ai/article/healthcare-layoffs-embracing-telehealth-and-ai-for-better-patient-care/
