AI tools could weaken doctors' skills in detecting colon cancer, study suggests

The benefits of artificial intelligence AI in the diagnostic space are ever-growing but evidence suggests it can also come with risks A new survey by European researchers investigated how AI can change the behavior of endoscopists when conducting a colonoscopy and how their performance dips when not using AI The research followed clinicians at four endoscopy centers in Poland participating in the ACCEPT Artificial Intelligence in Colonoscopy for Cancer Prevention trial where AI tools for polyp detection were introduced at the end of FDA APPROVES FIRST AI TOOL TO PREDICT BREAST CANCER RISKColonoscopies at these centers were randomly selected to be administered with or without AI assistance The researchers gauged the quality of the colonoscopies by comparing the identification of tumors also known as the adenoma detection rate or ADR three months before and three months after implementing the AI From September to March patients underwent non-AI-assisted colonoscopies before and after the introduction of AI The investigation exposed that the tumor detection rate decreased significantly going from before AI exposure to after AI exposure The findings were published in the journal Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology COLORECTAL CANCER DIAGNOSES SOAR AMONG YOUNGER ADULTS FOR ONE KEY REASONPer the researchers analysis exposure to AI individual gender and age were independent factors associated with the tumor identification rate The researchers concluded that continuous exposure to AI might reduce the ADR of standard non-AI-assisted colonoscopy suggesting a negative effect on endoscopist behavior Harvey Castro M D an exigency physician and specialist in AI and healthcare based in Texas announced he considers this assessment an key piece of work This scrutiny highlights a paradox in medicine Artificial intelligence can help us detect cancer but it may also weaken the clinician s own ability to see what matters when the tool is not available he disclosed in an interview with Fox News Digital Castro emphasized that even a change can affect colon cancer survival for thousands of patients which makes the drop in detection rates essential Even small changes in adenoma detection can shift cancer outcomes he declared A reduction of a insufficient percentage points is meaningful at a population level CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR WELLNESS NEWSLETTERThe expert recommends integrating AI wisely instead of avoiding it all together As a physician futurist I believe artificial intelligence is one of the majority of powerful tools we have for improving detection and saving lives Castro noted At the same time this examination reminds us of a simple truth Medicine is still a human profession The practitioner s eye judgment and pattern recognition remain irreplaceable Castro commented that the right path forward with AI in medicine is balance designing it to strengthen clinicians instead of weakening For more Physical condition articles visit www foxnews com soundness That requires training oversight and intentional design he mentioned The best future is one where tool and humanity work side-by-side healthcare provider plus machine ensuring patients get the safest and most of effective care feasible