AI’s Role in Healthcare: A Double-Edged Sword in the Fight Against Diseases

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has captivated global attention in recent years, but its applications in healthcare have been transforming the way humanity tackles serious health issues long before its widespread recognition.

Professor Dr. Kamran Khan, founder of BlueDot and a professor at the University of Toronto, has pioneered the use of AI to predict outbreaks of diseases. His platform tracks over 100,000 articles daily from sources such as news websites and airline bookings in 65 languages, allowing it to detect patterns and early signs of outbreaks. In December 2019, using this system, Khan identified a new virus in the Wuhan market in China and predicted its spread outside of the country. His early warning to customers in Canada to avoid Wuhan routes came a full month before the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 emergency.

The AI system Khan used is known as ‘Neuro AI,’ a specialized platform designed for specific problems, unlike general-purpose AI systems like ChatGPT. While AI can assist in solving long-standing medical problems, such as finding cures for cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, it is also being applied to detect diseases in their early stages.

In Oxford, postgraduate student Kat Gala Gher, a mathematician, has developed a new method to detect cancer in its early stages using AI. This initiative is part of a broader effort at Oxford University, where many researchers are using AI to find cures for cancer.

Countries like India, as well as regions including Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, are struggling with infectious and rare diseases. These nations could collaborate to create AI-driven tools for early disease detection and forecasting their spread, potentially saving millions of lives. The establishment of shared data centers and research hubs could significantly accelerate progress, similar to the work being done by companies like BlueDot in Toronto.

However, while AI offers the promise of a healthier future for half of the world’s population, its risks cannot be ignored. Scientists must remain vigilant, as AI, if misused, can cause widespread destruction. Some AI models can function autonomously without human intervention, which could lead to unintended consequences. While AI can aid in preventing the spread of diseases, it also holds the potential to create deadly ones. Therefore, caution is essential in ensuring AI benefits public health without compromising safety.