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On Sat, 20 Jul, 4:01 PM UTC
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[1]
Software developers want AI to give medical advice, but questions abound about accuracy
Software designers are testing specialized AI-powered chatbots that can give medical advice and diagnose conditions -- but questions abound about accuracy. This spring, Google unveiled an "AI Overview" feature where answers from the company's chatbot started to appear above typical search results, including for health-related queries. While it might have sounded like a good idea in theory, there have been issues around health advice offered by the software. In the first week that the bot was online, one user said Google AI gave incorrect, possibly lethal information about what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake. Another search resulted in Google recommending people eat "at least one small rock per day" for vitamins and minerals -- advice was lifted from a satirical article. Google says that they have since limited the inclusion of satirical and humor sites in their overviews, and removed some of the search results that went viral. "The vast majority of AI Overviews provide high quality information, with links to dig deeper on the web," a Google spokesperson told CBS News. "For health queries, we've always had strong quality and safety guardrails in place, including disclaimers that remind people that it's important to seek out expert advice. We've continued to refine when and how we show AI Overviews to ensure the information is high quality and reliable." CBS News Confirmed found that those fixes haven't prevented all health misinformation. Queries about introducing solid food to infants under six months old still returned tips in late June. Babies aren't supposed to begin eating solid food until the age of at least six months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Searches on the health benefits of dubious wellness trends like detoxes or drinking raw milk also included debunked claims. Despite the quirks and outright errors, many health care leaders say they remain optimistic about AI chatbots and how they can change the industry. "People will access information that they need," said Dr. Nigam Shah, a chief data scientist at Stanford Healthcare. "In the short term I'm a bit pessimistic, I think we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves. But in the long run I think these technologies are gonna do us a lot of good." Other advocates of chatbots are quick to point out that physicians don't always get it right. Estimates vary, but a study by the Department of Health and Human Services from 2022 found as many as 2% of patients who go to an emergency department each year may suffer harm after a misdiagnosis from a health care provider. Shah compared the use of chatbots to the early days of Google itself. "When Google Search came around, people were panicking that people would self-diagnose and all hell will break loose. It didn't happen," Shah said. "Same thing. We'll go through that phase (where) the new ones that aren't fully formed will make mistakes, and a couple of them will be bad, but by and large, having information when there is no other option is a good thing." The World Health Organization is one of the companies dipping its toes into the AI waters. The organization's chatbot, Sarah, pulls information from the WHO's site and its trusted partners, making the answers less prone to factual errors. When asked how to limit the risk of a heart attack, Sarah gave information about managing stress, sleeping well and focusing on a healthy lifestyle. Continued advancements in design and oversight might continue to improve such bots. But if you're turning to an AI chatbot for health advice today, note the warning that comes with Google's version: "Info quality may vary."
[2]
Software developers want AI to give medical advice, but questions abound about accuracy
Software designers are testing specialized AI-powered chatbots that can give medical advice and diagnose conditions -- but questions abound about accuracy. This spring, Google unveiled an "AI Overview" feature where answers from the company's chatbot started to appear above typical search results, including for health-related queries. While it might have sounded like a good idea in theory, there have been issues around health advice offered by the software. In the first week that the bot was online, one user said Google AI gave incorrect, possibly lethal information about what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake. Another search resulted in Google recommending people eat "at least one small rock per day" for vitamins and minerals -- advice was lifted from a satirical article. Google says that they have since limited the inclusion of satirical and humor sites in their overviews, and removed some of the search results that went viral. "The vast majority of AI Overviews provide high quality information, with links to dig deeper on the web," a Google spokesperson told CBS News. "For health queries, we've always had strong quality and safety guardrails in place, including disclaimers that remind people that it's important to seek out expert advice. We've continued to refine when and how we show AI Overviews to ensure the information is high quality and reliable." CBS News Confirmed found that those fixes haven't prevented all health misinformation. Queries about introducing solid food to infants under six months old still returned tips in late June. Babies aren't supposed to begin eating solid food until the age of at least six months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Searches on the health benefits of dubious wellness trends like detoxes or drinking raw milk also included debunked claims. Despite the quirks and outright errors, many health care leaders say they remain optimistic about AI chatbots and how they can change the industry. "People will access information that they need," said Dr. Nigam Shah, a chief data scientist at Stanford Healthcare. "In the short term I'm a bit pessimistic, I think we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves. But in the long run I think these technologies are gonna do us a lot of good." Other advocates of chatbots are quick to point out that physicians don't always get it right. Estimates vary, but a study by the Department of Health and Human Services from 2022 found as many as 2% of patients who go to an emergency department each year may suffer harm after a misdiagnosis from a health care provider. Shah compared the use of chatbots to the early days of Google itself. "When Google Search came around, people were panicking that people would self-diagnose and all hell will break loose. It didn't happen," Shah said. "Same thing. We'll go through that phase (where) the new ones that aren't fully formed will make mistakes, and a couple of them will be bad, but by and large, having information when there is no other option is a good thing." The World Health Organization is one of the companies dipping its toes into the AI waters. The organization's chatbot, Sarah, pulls information from the WHO's site and its trusted partners, making the answers less prone to factual errors. When asked how to limit the risk of a heart attack, Sarah gave information about managing stress, sleeping well and focusing on a healthy lifestyle. Continued advancements in design and oversight might continue to improve such bots. But if you're turning to an AI chatbot for health advice today, note the warning that comes with Google's version: "Info quality may vary."
[3]
Software developers want AI to give medical advice, but questions abound about accuracy
Software designers are testing specialized AI-powered chatbots that can give medical advice and diagnose conditions -- but questions abound about accuracy. This spring, Google unveiled an "AI Overview" feature where answers from the company's chatbot started to appear above typical search results, including for health-related queries. While it might have sounded like a good idea in theory, there have been issues around health advice offered by the software. In the first week that the bot was online, one user said Google AI gave incorrect, possibly lethal information about what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake. Another search resulted in Google recommending people eat "at least one small rock per day" for vitamins and minerals -- advice was lifted from a satirical article. Google says that they have since limited the inclusion of satirical and humor sites in their overviews, and removed some of the search results that went viral. "The vast majority of AI Overviews provide high quality information, with links to dig deeper on the web," a Google spokesperson told CBS News. "For health queries, we've always had strong quality and safety guardrails in place, including disclaimers that remind people that it's important to seek out expert advice. We've continued to refine when and how we show AI Overviews to ensure the information is high quality and reliable." CBS News Confirmed found that those fixes haven't prevented all health misinformation. Queries about introducing solid food to infants under six months old still returned tips in late June. Babies aren't supposed to begin eating solid food until the age of at least six months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Searches on the health benefits of dubious wellness trends like detoxes or drinking raw milk also included debunked claims. Despite the quirks and outright errors, many health care leaders say they remain optimistic about AI chatbots and how they can change the industry. "People will access information that they need," said Dr. Nigam Shah, a chief data scientist at Stanford Healthcare. "In the short term I'm a bit pessimistic, I think we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves. But in the long run I think these technologies are gonna do us a lot of good." Other advocates of chatbots are quick to point out that physicians don't always get it right. Estimates vary, but a study by the Department of Health and Human Services from 2022 found as many as 2% of patients who go to an emergency department each year may suffer harm after a misdiagnosis from a health care provider. Shah compared the use of chatbots to the early days of Google itself. "When Google Search came around, people were panicking that people would self-diagnose and all hell will break loose. It didn't happen," Shah said. "Same thing. We'll go through that phase (where) the new ones that aren't fully formed will make mistakes, and a couple of them will be bad, but by and large, having information when there is no other option is a good thing." The World Health Organization is one of the companies dipping its toes into the AI waters. The organization's chatbot, Sarah, pulls information from the WHO's site and its trusted partners, making the answers less prone to factual errors. When asked how to limit the risk of a heart attack, Sarah gave information about managing stress, sleeping well and focusing on a healthy lifestyle. Continued advancements in design and oversight might continue to improve such bots. But if you're turning to an AI chatbot for health advice today, note the warning that comes with Google's version: "Info quality may vary."
[4]
Software developers want AI to give medical advice, but questions abound about accuracy
Software designers are testing specialized AI-powered chatbots that can give medical advice and diagnose conditions -- but questions abound about accuracy. This spring, Google unveiled an "AI Overview" feature where answers from the company's chatbot started to appear above typical search results, including for health-related queries. While it might have sounded like a good idea in theory, there have been issues around health advice offered by the software. In the first week that the bot was online, one user said Google AI gave incorrect, possibly lethal information about what to do if bitten by a rattlesnake. Another search resulted in Google recommending people eat "at least one small rock per day" for vitamins and minerals -- advice was lifted from a satirical article. Google says that they have since limited the inclusion of satirical and humor sites in their overviews, and removed some of the search results that went viral. "The vast majority of AI Overviews provide high quality information, with links to dig deeper on the web," a Google spokesperson told CBS News. "For health queries, we've always had strong quality and safety guardrails in place, including disclaimers that remind people that it's important to seek out expert advice. We've continued to refine when and how we show AI Overviews to ensure the information is high quality and reliable." CBS News Confirmed found that those fixes haven't prevented all health misinformation. Queries about introducing solid food to infants under six months old still returned tips in late June. Babies aren't supposed to begin eating solid food until the age of at least six months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Searches on the health benefits of dubious wellness trends like detoxes or drinking raw milk also included debunked claims. Despite the quirks and outright errors, many health care leaders say they remain optimistic about AI chatbots and how they can change the industry. "People will access information that they need," said Dr. Nigam Shah, a chief data scientist at Stanford Healthcare. "In the short term I'm a bit pessimistic, I think we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves. But in the long run I think these technologies are gonna do us a lot of good." Other advocates of chatbots are quick to point out that physicians don't always get it right. Estimates vary, but a study by the Department of Health and Human Services from 2022 found as many as 2% of patients who go to an emergency department each year may suffer harm after a misdiagnosis from a health care provider. Shah compared the use of chatbots to the early days of Google itself. "When Google Search came around, people were panicking that people would self-diagnose and all hell will break loose. It didn't happen," Shah said. "Same thing. We'll go through that phase (where) the new ones that aren't fully formed will make mistakes, and a couple of them will be bad, but by and large, having information when there is no other option is a good thing." The World Health Organization is one of the companies dipping its toes into the AI waters. The organization's chatbot, Sarah, pulls information from the WHO's site and its trusted partners, making the answers less prone to factual errors. When asked how to limit the risk of a heart attack, Sarah gave information about managing stress, sleeping well and focusing on a healthy lifestyle. Continued advancements in design and oversight might continue to improve such bots. But if you're turning to an AI chatbot for health advice today, note the warning that comes with Google's version: "Info quality may vary."
[5]
Software providers test healthcare AI bots, but are they accurate?
With medical providers facing rising levels of burnout, software designers are testing specialized AI-powered chatbots that they hope provide preventative care advice to patients. However, CBS News Confirmed found that the summaries given from existing AI bots like ChatGPT aren't always accurate.
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Software developers are exploring the use of AI for providing medical advice, but questions about accuracy and reliability persist. This development raises important considerations about the future of healthcare and the role of technology in medical decision-making.
As artificial intelligence continues to advance, software developers are increasingly exploring its potential applications in healthcare, particularly in providing medical advice. This trend has sparked a debate about the accuracy and reliability of AI-powered medical guidance systems 1.
Software companies are actively working on integrating AI capabilities into their healthcare products. These AI systems are being designed to offer medical advice, interpret symptoms, and even suggest potential diagnoses. The goal is to create more accessible and efficient healthcare solutions, potentially reducing the burden on traditional medical systems 2.
While the potential benefits of AI in healthcare are significant, there are growing concerns about the accuracy of these systems. Critics argue that AI may not be sophisticated enough to handle the complexities of medical diagnosis and treatment recommendations. There are fears that inaccurate advice could lead to misdiagnosis or delayed treatment, potentially putting patients at risk 3.
The development of AI for medical advice raises important regulatory questions. Currently, there is a lack of clear guidelines governing the use of AI in healthcare, particularly when it comes to providing direct medical advice to patients. Regulators and policymakers are grappling with how to ensure patient safety while not stifling innovation in this rapidly evolving field 4.
To address accuracy concerns, software providers are conducting extensive testing of their healthcare AI bots. These tests aim to evaluate the performance of AI systems against human medical professionals in various scenarios. However, the results of these tests are still being debated, and there is no consensus on what constitutes an acceptable level of accuracy for AI in healthcare 5.
Despite the challenges, many experts believe that AI will play an increasingly important role in healthcare. The potential for AI to process vast amounts of medical data, identify patterns, and assist in decision-making is seen as a valuable asset. However, most agree that AI should be viewed as a tool to augment human medical expertise rather than replace it entirely.
As AI-powered medical advice systems become more prevalent, patient trust and acceptance will be crucial factors in their success. Education and transparency about the capabilities and limitations of AI in healthcare will be essential in building public confidence in these technologies.
Reference
MyChart, a popular patient communication platform, has introduced an AI feature to draft responses for doctors. While it aims to improve efficiency, concerns about transparency and potential errors have emerged.
5 Sources
A new study published in BMJ Quality & Safety cautions against using AI-powered search engines and chatbots for drug information, citing inaccuracies and potential harm to patients.
2 Sources
A recent study reveals that ChatGPT, an AI language model, demonstrated superior performance in diagnosing medical conditions compared to human doctors, even when physicians had access to AI assistance.
6 Sources
A new study reveals that while AI models perform well on standardized medical tests, they face significant challenges in simulating real-world doctor-patient conversations, raising concerns about their readiness for clinical deployment.
3 Sources
A new study from UC San Francisco shows that AI models like ChatGPT are not yet ready to make critical decisions in emergency room settings, tending to overprescribe treatments and admissions compared to human doctors.
5 Sources
