Enterprise Tech Dispatch: AI disease prediction as good as medical experts

In an ongoing digital transformation led by artificial intelligence (AI) and the fear of job losses due to its implementation, a study by medical journal Lancet has claimed that AI can diagnose diseases as accurately as any medical professional.

The paper compared the diagnostic performance of deep learning models on medical imaging for diseases from over 82 existing studies with the oldest study dating back to 1951. 

In medicine, deep learning forms the basis for AI by helping identifying patterns of disease through examination of thousands of images, after which the trained AI software is run through new individual patients for diagnosis.

“There are a lot of headlines about AI outperforming humans but our message is that it can at best be equivalent,” said Dr Xiaoxuan Liu, the lead author of the paper -  A comparison of deep learning performance against healthcare professionals in detecting diseases from medical imaging: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Liu did not suggest that AI could replace humans.

The studies spanned 13 speciality areas ranging from trauma, cardiology to skin and stomach diseases. The key takeaway from the report was that deep learning algorithms were able to correctly detect diseases in 87% of cases compared to an 86% detection rate by doctors.

 “After careful selection of studies, we found deep learning algorithms to have equivalent sensitivity and specificity to healthcare professionals.” Dr Liu said in the report.

Whatsapp used extensively for spreading false information during 2019 general elections: study

A study conducted by the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US has claimed that WhatsApp was heavily misused to spread rumours and propaganda during the recent elections in India and Brazil.

The research, Can WhatsApp Counter Misinformation by Limiting Message Forwarding?, has alleged WhatsApp failed in the propagation of misinformation spread through WhatsApp groups.

The study was conducted two months before the elections and 15 days after in  Indonesia, Brazil and India.

The authors suggested that although the current curbs by WhatsApp could curb false information, they fell short of blocking high viral content. “They are ineffective in blocking the propagation of misinformation campaigns through public groups when the content has a high viral nature,” the report said.

The report also pointed out how in Indonesia, 80% of shared images appeared for a maximum of two days while in India images were accessible for download even two months after being forwarded.

"Our results show that content can spread quite fast through the network structure of public groups in WhatsApp, reaching the private groups and individual users later," the study said.

WEF says India can breathe easily through technology

The World Economic Forum (WEF), along with media house European Sting, has said technology could play a lead role in bettering the air quality in India. 

According to many studies, it is estimated that the direct increase in population would lead to a decrease in ambient air quality, especially major cities in India.

Being home to 17% of the world’s population, the report said that 25-30 individuals migrate every minute from the rural areas to major cities in India, which will lead to high levels of ambient air pollution.

The report quoted an Ericsson Mobility study which claimed that information and communication technologies (ICT), especially internet of things (IoT) devices could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 15% by 2030.

The WEF pointed out that ICT could make an impact on transportation, electricity grids, manufacturing and agriculture.

The report also pointed towards a cap and trading programme launched in Gujarat that curbs particles in the air. The simple solution works with the government setting a cap on emissions and allows factories to buy and sell permits in order to stay below the emission norms, the report added.