AI and Clinical Practice—the Potential for AI to Augment Humanity in Medicine
Sep 27, 2023
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JAMA Editor in Chief Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo and UCSF's Chief Research Informatics Officer Ida Sim discuss the transformative potential of AI in medicine, exploring generative AI and large language models. They reflect on AI augmentation in medicine and the importance of AI in medical practice. The potential role of AI in clinical practice is also explored, emphasizing the need for collaboration between computer science and medical professionals in AI innovation.
Generative AI, using large language models, has the potential to revolutionize healthcare by augmenting clinical processes and improving operational efficiency.
To successfully integrate AI in medicine, collaboration between computer science and clinical medicine is crucial, with active engagement from clinicians and focus on operational efficiencies, treatment optimization, and addressing real-world challenges.
Deep dives
The transformative nature of AI in clinical medicine
AI's entry into the medical field is transforming the dynamic between clinicians and patients, especially due to its human-like attributes. The previous focus on machine learning for prediction has shifted to generative AI, which uses large language models to generate natural language. This unprecedented ability for a machine to mimic human language and interactions has garnered both interest and fear. The integration of AI in patient-doctor interactions has the potential to revolutionize healthcare by augmenting clinical processes and improving operational efficiency.
The significance of generative AI and large language models
Generative AI, particularly in the form of large language models, is considered a transformative technology. It can generate natural language, music, and images, mimicking human creativity. These models are trained on vast amounts of data, including internet content, and have the capacity to generate coherent sentences and responses. However, questions regarding the understanding and accuracy of the generated content persist. The ethical implications and potential loss of human values in healthcare also necessitate careful consideration.
Bridging the gap between AI innovation and medical practice
To successfully integrate AI in medicine, it is crucial to foster collaboration between computer science and clinical medicine. Active engagement from clinicians is essential to ensure that technological advancements align with the values and goals of healthcare. Academia plays a pivotal role in driving the vision, testing the technology, and training future healthcare professionals with interdisciplinary skills. It is important to focus on operational efficiencies, optimizing treatment and management, and addressing real-world challenges to enhance clinician-patient interactions and patient outcomes.
In this Q&A, JAMA Editor in Chief Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS, and Ida Sim, MD, PhD, a primary care physician and UCSF’s Chief Research Informatics Officer, discuss generative AI, large language models, and the ways in which AI could affect humanity in medicine. Related Content: