Artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare and research

Conclusion

AI technologies are being used or trialled for a range of purposes in the field of healthcare and research, including detection of disease, management of chronic conditions, delivery of health services, and drug discovery. AI technologies have the potential to help address important health challenges, but might be limited by the quality of available health data, and by the inability of AI to possess some human characteristics, such as compassion.

The use of AI raises a number of ethical and social issues, many of which overlap with issues raised by the use of data and healthcare technologies more broadly. A key challenge for future governance of AI technologies willbe ensuring that AI is developed and used in a way that is transparent and compatible with the public interest, whilst stimulating and driving innovation in the sector.