Artificial intelligence is a rapidly evolving new technology that provides the opportunity for significant improvements in industries, particularly in those where time is precious and enhancing decision-making can be vital. For example, industries such as mining and medicine can benefit from the power of AI, enabling decision-makers to make informed decisions that improve outcomes.

Students, such as those studying a Masters in Healthcare Leadership, as well as representative bodies such as the Australian Medical Association (AMA), must carefully consider the impact that any new technology may have on the work that they do.

In a nascent form, AI can present risks, no matter how innocuous a product may seem. As has been seen in recent months, the use of AI on confidential health data in insecure settings can present risks around the privacy and sensitive nature of data. In some cases, this has resulted in regulatory action, such as the recent ban on Perth healthcare professionals using the publicly accessible Generative AI tool ChatGPT.

Let’s explore the nuances of emerging AI models – how they can present risks to private and sensitive medical data, and how they can also foster innovation and transformation across industries.

AI Whoopsies – More Than A Reply All

For many people, having the opportunity to work in a large organisation can be an exciting time. You may be afforded the opportunity to work with a group of people, as well as engage with larger sections within the firm.

A common trope that occurs in film and television is the instance where an unsuspecting team member hits Reply All on a message with several dozen employees, rather than a reply to a single individual, and immediately makes a fool of themselves by sending a message to a much broader audience than intended. 

Many modern tools allow for this accidental email to be reversed or revoked in the workplace – however, it can often be seen as a humourous trope that highlights the danger of putting the wrong information in the wrong place. In modern AI tools, however, the ability to retract or remove data entered into public models can be of particular difficulty – in many cases, the queries supplied by users are then used to provide additional context for large language models. 

This may seem relatively safe, however, this can cause harm to organisations that feed sensitive or private information into these systems. For example, Samsung Monitor employees found themselves in hot water earlier this year after being caught providing sensitive semiconductor information to ChatGPT – highlighting the dangers of using public models with untrained staff.

The Benefits of AI In Medical Fields

It would be remiss to say that any use of artificial intelligence is inherently risky – emerging technologies may carry risks, however it does not mean that we should shy away from them. There are a wide range of potential applications for AI within medicine, with the potential to assist physicians in the treatment of patients.

There are many positive examples of the use of AI in medicine, particularly in the realms of improving the ability of doctors to identify cancers and other serious illnesses. While in their early stages, many studies have shown improved diagnosis rates when AI is used to support medical professionals in the diagnostic process.

AI models have the ability to learn off of more extensive datasets that even some of the most experienced professionals would simply not be able to churn through in a lifetime. A machine learning model could potentially be exposed to the work of dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of radiologists worldwide to assist in the identification of cancerous masses in scans that are hard for humans to read. This can then be reinforced by validation from a human oncologist – increasing the chance that a cancer may be diagnosed early, potentially saving not only money, but lives.

The Push For Regulation In An Emerging Field

The artificial intelligence sector is largely unregulated in Australia – and much like the technical innovations around other emerging digital sectors, this can present complexities and challenges for healthcare workforces across the country. Professional bodies such as the Australian Medical Association (AMA) are lobbying for change – highlighting the inherent risks of platforms with limited governance.

Understanding that significant opportunities afforded to communities as a result of AI cannot be understated – however, it is important that proper governance is in place to provide safeguards against the misuse of technology. Ensuring appropriate protections are in place for patients and medical professionals alike could potentially encourage future growth in AI applications within the medical sector – creating a trusted industry that is crucial to the health of future Australians.

AI – The Digital Penicillin Of Medical Innovation?

While many modern Australians take the use of antibiotics for granted, the invention of penicillin was a transformative moment in the history of healthcare in Australia. Nearly a century on from Alexander Fleming’s discovery, however, it seems as good a moment as any to ponder if the next revolution in the form of healthcare will be digital, rather than medical.

Artificial intelligence provides the opportunity to enhance the capabilities of modern medical practitioners – to allow for the enhanced ability to detect diseases that are among some of Australia’s biggest killers. Consider the combined ability of a physician’s experience with an AI’s capability to learn from the professional experience of thousands of other cardiologists worldwide – increasing the probability that difficult conditions will be easier to spot.

While the benefits are immense, indeed, there are risks. The ability for untrained staff to make a mistake that could result in the leak of private medical details of patients is well known, and well documented – but should that encourage us to shy away from AI? In many cases, it could be argued that the benefits far outweigh the risks present.

While pop culture continues to portray AI as villainous antagonists, such as Skynet, it must be said that AI is set to transform the way that we live our lives. Will AI be the modern penicillin – transforming medical practice in ways that nobody could expect? Time will tell.