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Artificial intelligence (AI) is a tool. “Any tool can be used for good or bad,” the visual effects artist John Knoll famously said. In the healthcare space, AI has the potential to make medicine more personalized and accurate. But concerns exist about the best ways to use AI responsibly.
According to a Pew Research survey, a majority of the American public is not convinced AI in healthcare can improve outcomes. This doubt may not be justified in every case. But the facts support having a healthy amount of skepticism.
Learning more about the state of AI in healthcare can help empower you to recognize its potential uses and drawbacks.
Interest in and adoption of AI has seen a significant increase since 2023. Broadly speaking, AI is any machine used to mimic human intelligence. Different types exist. In the past few years, when people refer to AI, they often mean a type called generative AI.
Generative AI uses large amounts of data to make text, pictures and other content. Patients may use generative AI in certain situations, like researching how doctors diagnose cancer.
For example, you may sometimes get an AI result when you search Google. Google’s generative AI creates these responses by drawing from data used to train it. ChatGPT is another example of a generative AI device.
Doctors may use generative AI for certain purposes, like reducing documentation time. They may also use other AIs, including:
Experts continue to develop new applications for AI in healthcare.
The most powerful AI that exists today is called narrow or “weak.” Despite the names, it still has many useful applications. But it can only perform a single or narrow task. For example, generative AI can only produce text or images.
General or “strong” AI is popular in science fiction, but it is still just that. General AI is a theory that describes an AI that can perform any intellectual task a human can.
Increased interest in AI has caused concern among doctors and patients alike. The AI field is evolving quickly. Many questions exist about how to use AI tools responsibly. Major concerns about using AI in a healthcare setting include:
Generative AI and Mesothelioma Research
Generative AI tools like Google’s AI search results are only as good as the data used to train them. Because mesothelioma is such a rare cancer, the risk for bad search results may be higher than for other cancers. Patients and families may want to find more reliable sources and talk directly to an expert.
With these concerns in mind, it is important to be aware of what AI can and cannot do. In some cases, it can be a very useful tool. But right now, it has serious limitations that should be taken into consideration.
Patients may want to maintain a healthy dose of skepticism when it comes to using AI for healthcare purposes. Generative and other types of AI are still in the early stages of development. Questions remain about their accuracy, equity and applications.
When using generative AI for medical purposes, patients may want to:
Patients should never be afraid to reach out to a medical expert – you can even ask them for their thoughts on AI in healthcare.
AI is not meant to replace personalized medical advice and treatment, nor is it capable of doing so. For mesothelioma patients, doctors specializing in this disease practice at cancer centers throughout the country. These experts have perspectives that cannot be found in any known AI tools.
The American Medical Association. Big majority of doctors see upsides to using health care AI.
Harvard Health Publishing. Can AI answer medical questions better than your doctor?
IBM. Understanding the different types of artificial intelligence.
Khan B, Fatima H, Qureshi A, Kumar S, Hanan A, Hussain J, et al. Drawbacks of artificial intelligence and their potential solutions in the healthcare sector. Biomed Mater Devices. 2023 Feb 8;1–8.
Pew Research Center. 60% of Americans Would Be Uncomfortable With Provider Relying on AI in Their Own Health Care.
Pew Research Center. What the data says about Americans’ views of artificial intelligence.
Statista. Interest in generative AI on Google searches from February 2022 to June 2024 worldwide, by week.
Yale Medicine. Generative AI for Health Information: A Guide to Safe Use.
