Editor’s note: In addition to following technological developments, the author is also a music composer (Julliard trained). He provided the music to listen to while reading this column. This piece is called “Living a Loter Longer.”
https://berkshireedge-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Living-a-Lot-Longer.mp3
In the last few columns, I’ve looked at the applications of artificial intelligence to communication, human relationships, and transportation. The impact of artificial intelligence on healthcare is likely to be more important than any other, as it is likely to extend our lifespans.
Historically, there has been a huge disparity between living in a metropolitan area near state-of-the-art medical centers with excellent medical centers and living in a rural area with few facilities to treat complex medical problems. There was. There are significant differences in the treatments available. But with the combination of artificial intelligence, robotics, and instant communication, people in rural areas may soon have access to that highly specialized treatment.
There is still the problem of how to depreciate expensive equipment in small rural populations, but if this equipment is mobile and there are many types of automated transportation, this too could become less of a problem. There is a gender.
Hospitals in Boston are already calling Berkshire patients to let them know they need heart tests. A friend of mine who lives in the Berkshires had heart replacement surgery a while back and is networked with a doctor in Boston who will call him to come in if anything abnormal is detected. I know there are physicians at Fairview Hospital who would like to increase local telemedicine, which will be possible soon.
Communications and remote sensing prices continue to fall.
Just as distance learning has become more popular and has increased access to highly qualified teachers, the same is true for medical professionals. It may soon be possible to conduct tests remotely, with the assistance of less specialized local medical professionals. I have met radiologists who work far from their hospitals without any reduction in their ability to contribute at a high level. At the same time, the cost of living and daily travel time are reduced. If your insurance company cooperates, your medical costs may be lower.
The combination of AI applied to transportation and healthcare will help people live longer because they can respond to crises instantly. Howard Lieberman created this image with the help of the AI software program DALLE-3.
Now, just as all networks can be exploited and potentially exposed to attack, there are also security issues that need to be resolved. Systems are becoming more secure every year, but hackers are also becoming more sophisticated and may attempt to take over your diagnosis or treatment. Still, if you have a choice between safety and death, you may be willing to sacrifice some safety.
Just as there are risks when relying on AI to operate self-driving cars, planes, trucks, ships, and trains, some of the same risks apply to healthcare. But for now, it looks like the upside is significantly higher than the downside, but of course we don’t know what will materialize in the future.
The potential of smartwatches in the future of healthcare is little known. A few years ago, Apple CEO Tim Cook, when asked about the future of self-driving cars, said Apple’s ultimate contribution to society would be in healthcare, not entertainment or information. He then realized that he had fired members of the car team, but not the smartwatch team. This is quite remarkable. Smartwatches will be able to measure much more than just blood pressure. A watch that can non-invasively measure blood sugar levels may also become a reality. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensors that can send near real-time data to smartwatches are now becoming a cornerstone of daily care for many people with diabetes.
Smartwatches have already become amazing medical devices Howard Lieberman created this image with the help of DALLE-3, an AI software program.
The fact that these devices can simultaneously take movies and photos, record lectures, and serve the equivalent of satellite radio is quite amazing. When sensors that can receive visual images and sound are combined with gyroscopes, barometers, accelerometers, and magnetometers to fit in a pocket and weigh just a few ounces, an entire laboratory can be used. You will be able to do this. A laboratory where information can be transmitted, shared, and even processed. Each of us will have more horsepower in our pockets than NASA used to reach the moon. With this, the future of telemedicine looks secure.
