As Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming several industries, Demis Hassabis, CEO, Google DeepMind, recently highlighted the challenges in the medical sector due to AI.
In a recent conversation with the media about the future of AI, Hassabis pointed out that the next five to ten years will bring some of the major transformations, and healthcare will be at the forefront of this evolution.
Speaking about whether AI could handle all medical tasks performed by humans, Hassabis noted that AI might be able to do the job of doctors; however, it cannot replace nurses. He further explained that AI is becoming adept at processing medical data. “Machines can now read scans, analyse test results, and even propose treatment plans,” he said.
Hassabis added that AI’s support could soon become a way for doctors to work, and in some cases, even take over certain diagnostic work. However, he noted that nurses are not just responsible for administering medications or monitoring vitals, but their role is grounded in human interaction and offers emotional comfort, provides physical care, and creates a personal connection with patients. “AI can’t hold someone’s hand,” he said.
Hassabis acknowledged that AI does a remarkable job at analysing vast troves of data, such as scans and lab reports, to complex patient histories, and this ability could transform the diagnostic and treatment process. “A robotic nurse might be efficient, but it would lack the human warmth and compassion that define quality caregiving,” Hassabis said.
The Google DeepMind executive also noted that the irreplaceable human element in nursing will remain beyond the reach of even the most sophisticated algorithms.
Recently, Geoffrey Hinton, popularly known as the “Godfather of AI”, opened up about the potential risks of AI developing its own internal languages. “Now it gets more scary if they develop their own internal languages for talking to each other. I wouldn’t be surprised if they developed their own language for thinking, and we have no idea what they’re thinking,” Hinton said during a podcast.