Ok Ai won’t cure cancer (see podcast referenced below) but it may help people to help people. I was listening to a recent Dr. Peter Attia interview with OpenAI board member Dr. Susan Desmond-Hellmann (The Drive #346). The podcast was largely focused on medicine and health, but it did turn towards focusing on Dr. Desmond-Hellmann's work in the Not for profit sector and global health.

Firstly, it showed the immense value of development for the people who are served by international aid, and how investing in global health can save significant lives. Importantly, it also improve the lives of the survivors, their families, and the broader community. Personally, I am a big fan of this message.

However, of even more interest was the discussion around AI and how it can change the medical field. This is an important perspective given her presence on the OpenAI board. A key takeaway is the emphasis that can be placed upon developing AI as a tool to assist people helping people, focusing it away from the direct replacement of key service providers, and instead replacing the important but repetitive analysis and recording.

What this discussion failed to bring up was how this could have significant impact on under-developed medical centres throughout poorer communities. Ai s a key tool to help developing countries. It gives them near instant access to analysis and knowledge which would otherwise be difficult (or expensive) to access.Every patient matters, these will massively support providers to increase the number of patients they see, while also increasing the responsiveness of analysis and reporting. That being said, it must be viewed in the light of protecting and expanding the role of key support staff - so that they can continue to serve their communities, and support themselves and their families. I’d love to see research continue in this area- potentially investigating specialised models and making offline versions so that they can be used in even the most remote and challenging environments.

Imagine a world where a remote medical specialist can tap into the analysis of development professionals, translators, and the collective knowledge of the medical field. This is a multiplier for the service that the medical specialist can bring.

The integration of AI into healthcare systems represents a transformative opportunity, particularly for developing nations. While the technology promises to enhance efficiency, expand access to care, and improve patient outcomes, we must approach this integration thoughtfully. The key lies in viewing AI not as a replacement for healthcare workers, but as a powerful tool that augments their capabilities. By maintaining this balanced perspective, we can harness AI's potential to democratize healthcare while ensuring that the human element - crucial to quality medical care - remains at the forefront of service delivery. This approach will not only protect jobs but also create new opportunities for healthcare workers to focus on what matters most - providing compassionate, patient-centered care that benefits developing communities.