At the Milken Institute 2024 Global Conference, health care leaders discussed the growing use of AI in science and medicine. They emphasized the importance of developers and health systems taking into consideration the limitations of AI to prevent harm to patients. MD Anderson Cancer Center Chief Data Officer Caroline Chung highlighted the need for a shift in mindset from seeing AI as a replacement to exploring its potential.
Meanwhile, Healthvana, a patient interface company, developed a conversational AI chatbot to help patients dealing with sexually transmitted infections. The chatbot had two options: a standard AI persona or a drag queen. Surprisingly, the drag queen persona was more engaging for patients, with 80% choosing this option. Healthvana CEO Ramin Bastani noted that patients enjoyed the comments that came from the drag queen persona.
It’s clear that AI has immense potential in healthcare, but it’s important to approach it with caution and consider its limitations to avoid harming patients. Developers and health systems must take into account how they can best use AI while also protecting their patients’ well-being.
