AI’s Role in Revolutionizing Healthcare
According to a recent report, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are poised to significantly transform the healthcare sector in the near future.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the largest community of technology experts focused on improving technology for the greater good, published its Technology Megatrends 2030 report on Wednesday, following an exclusive review by a business outlet.
This report delved into five key areas, which included AI, energy, health and biotechnology, space technology, and robotics, evaluating their potential to change human life by the year 2030. Experts contributing to the report ranked developments in medical technology as having the most substantial impact on humanity.
Dejan Miložić, an IEEE Fellow and Chair of the IEEE Future Directions Committee Industry Advisory Board, shared with the business outlet that of all the megatrends studied, “medical technology stands out as one of the most transformational and beneficial to humanity, fueled by a significant shift from reactive treatments to preventive measures.”
The report pinpointed several promising technology areas expected to advance healthcare, such as personalized medicine, genetic engineering, gene therapy, early disease diagnosis, molecular therapeutics, and protein synthesis.
Among these six areas, IEEE assessed personalized medicine, genetic engineering, and readily available early disease diagnosis as the top contenders for impact, success rate, viability, and adoption.
Looking ahead, IEEE anticipates that in the next five to ten years, advancements in health technology will lead to fewer chronic diseases that can be prevented, tailored clinical results, better food safety, and improved access to high-quality, nutritious foods.
“As the population ages, technologies like virtual care and intelligent monitoring will become vital for addressing the needs of a growing economy,” Miložić remarked. “Additionally, we foresee a reimagination of food systems as essential health infrastructure, leveraging AI-enhanced tools for personalized nutrition and managing chronic diseases on a broader scale.”
IEEE also recognized several factors that could facilitate advancements in healthcare technology, including biotechnology, digital health solutions, agricultural drones, and personalized nutrition.
However, not everything is set in stone—there are barriers to the beneficial impact of medical technologies. Issues like maintaining the status quo, alongside concerns regarding data privacy and security related to public health efforts, pose real challenges.
“Our experts have emphasized that without strong trust, privacy, and safety protocols guiding the development and implementation of these technologies, they won’t be effective,” Miložić pointed out.
