Towards a medical revolution: the impact of AI in Healthcare

April 29, 2024
Europa

Insights from the roundtable discussion organized by Cathay Innovation

At the recent roundtable organized by Cathay Innovation in Paris, the growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Healthcare sector was at the heart of discussions. Bringing together a panel of top-notch experts including healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs and investors, the event aimed to explore the tangible applications of AI and its transformative potential in the medical field.

The exchanges highlighted that AI is no longer just a buzzword, but has become a catalyst for change in healthcare. From advances in disease diagnosis to the overhaul of administrative processes, the possibilities offered by this innovation seem limitless.

On the sidelines of the event, each of the three speakers was asked the same question individually: 

„What aspects of the digital healthcare value chain are ripe for transformation thanks to generative AI, and when can we expect to see these changes take place?“

Each speaker shared its distinctive and insightful perspective on the topic.

Delphine Groll, COO and co-founder of Nabla

Our hypothesis is confirmed by our discussions with healthcare professionals. Contrary to what you might think, it’s administrative tasks, particularly clinical documentation, that are the real challenge. Professionals spend up to 40% of their time on these activities, such as writing medical reports, prescriptions or invoicing. When we launched our ambient AI Nabla Copilot, it became clear that clinicians needed help with these tedious, time-consuming tasks more than with medical diagnosis.

To optimize medical practice, we first need to automate these administrative tasks, enabling healthcare professionals to focus on their core business :   diagnosing and monitoring patients. Next, we can develop clinical decision-making support solutions to strengthen their ability to deliver quality care. Diagnostic support comes next, with carefully planned integration into our product roadmap.

Regulatory compliance is crucial : considering diagnostic aids as legitimate medical devices guarantees the quality and market success of our products. At the same time, convincing doctors to adopt non-medical solutions can be a challenge, but by demonstrating their efficacy, time-saving benefits and improved quality of care, we are building a solid foundation for future acceptance. Our ultimate goal is to lighten the mental load and reduce the burnout of doctors and medical staff, making their lives easier and enabling them to provide the best possible care to their patients.

Stanley Durrleman, CEO and co-founder of Qairnel

The impact of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly in its generative form, is provoking debate in the medical field. Despite bold predictions, such as Jeff Hinton’s about the imminent disappearance of radiologists thanks to convolutional neural networks, the changes are not as radical as expected almost 10 years later. Regarding generative AI specifically, its potential in the medical field is undeniable, but the challenges are many. Predicting the progression of clinical and biological data requires massive quantities of data, often scarce and fragmented in the medical field, and the development of specific algorithms is still in its infancy.

The market launch phase will be crucial for the acceptance of these technologies. Bringing together a diverse team, including not only engineers but also medical experts, is essential to ensure the success and adoption of these solutions. In a medical landscape where healthcare professionals face increasing demand for care and quality challenges, generative AI can offer a promising prospect. By freeing up time and improving the quality of care, it could transform the delivery of healthcare services, but it remains to be seen how it will actually integrate into medical practice.

Aissa Khelifa, CEO of Milvue

The real question is: „What aspect of healthcare will escape the impact of generative AI?“

Many studies are now revealing the superiority of generative language models, even older versions, over doctors in tests such as multiple-choice questionnaires or complex case studies. With regard to empathy, long considered the prerogative of humanity, some studies suggest that certain AI models can demonstrate greater empathy than humans.

As far as technical gestures are concerned, the convergence of robots and AI is opening up new challenges, with constant progress in terms of robot functionality and precision, and falling costs. In the short term, the impact of generative AI will be most significant in document management, such as medical summaries in computerized patient files, and the drafting of reports or discharge letters.

It is therefore highly likely that in the near future, the organization of healthcare will undergo a major transformation due to the use of generative AI. There is an urgent need to reflect on the implications, future organizational structures and the management of change, in order to avoid disorderly development.