AI health care will turn us into different beings

Cognitive computing — or “machines that can see, learn and think” — is revolutionising medical care across the world.

Increased processing speed, cloud computing and the advent of smart technology are democratising medical care. Computer imaging capabilities, nanomedicine and brain-computer interface technology have the potential to usher in what some call a transhuman world.

The very definition of what it means to be human is changing. Increased prosperity, longevity and artificially created body and brain parts are no longer the exclusive domain of science fiction. Human and cyborg consciousness will combine in a new age for homo sapiens.

It is our collective moral and ethical duty to regulate and control the trajectory of advanced intelligent systems. We need to ensure that the “have-nots” are not left behind. The developing world, plagued by disease and poverty, is the casualty of the socalled digital divide.

With the fastest-growing population in the world, and the youngest demography globally, Africa faces the ghastly risk of being left behind in the race for technological superiority. The global medical community must co-operate and ensure that the beautiful continent shares in the vast benefits brought on by new technologies: financial prosperity and adequate medical care.

Researchers have identified several issues with the use of AI tools in real-world hospitals. In other words, an algorithm that has been validated on a subset of patients may not perform as well on a different subset. Many are advocating for clinical AI to be trained and validated on a diverse set of patient data from patients of various genders, ages and ethnic backgrounds.

The data used to develop and test most of clinical AI is potentially widening the disparity between rich and poor. Given the significance of Chinese and YS machine-learning technology and research in the sector, the skewed patient data is unsurprising. Researchers from these countries have authored more than 40% of clinical AI articles, and they naturally gravitate towards patient data that is nearest to them and easiest to gather.

The potential for AI to improve health care in low- and middle-income nations has received much attention, and it could prove to be effective in supporting Africa to conquer preventive and treatment issues.

A report, “Reimagining global health through AI: the roadmap to AI maturity” by the Novartis Foundation and Microsoft, says investment in data and AI will be critical tools for improving health systems in Africa during and after Covid-19.

The continent’s most critical challenge is a lack of medical personnel. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 25% of the global illness burden and only 12% of the world’s population, but has only 3% of its health workers, according to the UN Development Programme. The situation is set to deteriorate further due to a projected global shortage of health staff, which is expected to reach 18-million by 2030.

Since 1972, when the first medical AI system, MYCIN, was constructed, more advanced systems have been developed. Medical professionals can now use AI technology to assist in disease identification and treatment, as well as to forecast disease progression and to aid in clinical decision-making.

Without a doubt, AI has the potential to be a transformative tool in health care in Africa. In the smart technology era, noone should be left behind.