Lessons from the MD Anderson-Watson Project

The MD Anderson-Watson project serves as a cautionary tale for future artificial intelligence endeavors in healthcare. Initially aimed at improving cancer care through IBM's Watson system, the project ultimately faced significant challenges, resulting in over $62 million in costs without achieving its goals. Key issues arose from the project's scope, which expanded significantly over time, veering away from its initial focus on a specific cancer type and complicating its execution. The experience highlights the importance of maintaining a clear, manageable scope in project management to avoid costly pitfalls.