ArtificialIntelligence (AI) is being used in various applications in healthcare, fromdrug discovery to medical imaging, and patient care. This is happening at atime when developments in immersive technologies like Virtual Reality (VR), arerapidly increasing. These are exciting times. In this blog, we will explore theapplication of AI in healthcare and how immersive technologies like VR maybecome its perfect visualisation partner.
One ofthe most significant applications of AI in healthcare is in medical imaging. AIalgorithms can analyse medical images such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs todetect abnormalities that may be missed by human radiologists. AI can also helpwith early diagnosis and the detection of diseases such as cancer. By analysingvast amounts of data, AI algorithms can identify patterns and anomalies thatmay be indicative of disease.
AI isalso being used in drug discovery to speed up the development of newtreatments. AI algorithms can analyse vast amounts of data from clinicaltrials, scientific literature, and other sources to identify potential drugcandidates. This can significantly reduce the time and cost of developing newtreatments.
It isapparent that AI gives us the ability to use data for our benefit, helping usto see what may not always be obvious or what would simply take too long to domanually. In recent times, we have seen how AI can automate processes, savingtime and generating new ideas.
VR on the other hand is becoming more immersive, more accessible and its applications of use are widening. For example, VR is being used extensively in training people to carry out tasks, which can sometimes include interactions with virtual people. Speaking with virtual patients to better understand their symptoms in away that mimics what would happen in real life, can be incredibly valuable. But how effective are such training programmes if the learners can easily predict what these virtual people will do, say and how they will act. This could happen if learners are repeating the same training programme. Whilst this repetitiveness be useful in some circumstances, it could also lead to familiarity and thus a lack of engagement.
This is where AI could complement VR to form the ultimate partnership. We have discussed how AI can analyse large amounts of data and do so quickly. We also know that AI is being used to generate responses to questions, formulating comprehensive answers using vast amounts of data. In this example, taking AI and placing this technology into virtual patients, can create real-time personalised learning experiences, reducing familiarity and individualising education in a way previously unthinkable. Therefore, in this partnership, AI can be the thinker and immersive technology the thing that sees.
Conclusion
AI and VR have huge potential to address some of the contemporary challenges we all face today. In particular, there is excitement in the application of these technologies in healthcare.
Goggleminds is working on the next generation of VR simulations for healthcare training by using AI to make simulation training more dynamic and more personalised to individual learners. This year, the levels of realism will be pushed further and further and as they are, it’ll be interesting to see how perceptions of VR training change as learners get to experience real-time virtual education.