NEJM AI Grand Rounds Can AI Accelerate Science? Dr. Andy Beam on AI’s Next Frontier
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Jul 16, 2025 Dr. Andrew Beam, co-host of NEJM AI Grand Rounds and CTO of Lila Sciences, shares his journey from a childhood misdiagnosis to forging the future of AI in healthcare. He discusses how personal experiences shaped his passion for medical AI and the transformative potential it offers. The conversation dives into the intersection of academic research and industry, highlighting the role of data in decision-making and the emergence of AI tools that create and test hypotheses. It's a fascinating glimpse into the next frontier of scientific discovery!
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Childhood Misdiagnosis Inspires AI
- Andy Beam's whooping cough misdiagnosis in childhood showed human recall limits in diagnosis.
- This personal story inspired his vision for AI to augment and improve medical diagnosis.
AI Diagnosis Inevitable
- Human cognition can be recreated in computers, which scale better and don't tire.
- AI will inevitably surpass human diagnostic capabilities due to these advantages.
Structured Mentoring Progression
- Begin students on well-defined projects to ensure early success and gradually encourage independence.
- Use structured sprints initially but allow autonomy to develop creativity and critical thinking.