Imagine a world where an AI-powered doctor bot is only a few clicks away, offering instant diagnoses and treatment plans (for a fraction of the cost).
Well, this futuristic vision might not be far from reality. With ChatGPT passing medical exams with flying colors, AI is the latest innovation challenging traditional healthcare models.
In this article, we delve into GPT-4’s capabilities, its limitations, and assess whether ChatGPT really could replace doctors.
PLEASE NOTE: GPT-4 is impressive, but please do not use it instead of a doctor just yet. It makes mistakes - a lot of them.
Key takeaways
- ChatGPT-4, OpenAI’s newest AI model, performs exceptionally well in medical exams
- The AI accurately answered US medical exam licensing questions 90% of the time
- GPT-4 can translate complex medical terminology and provide compassionate communication guidance
- Despite its impressive abilities, GPT-4 has limitations and can make errors
- The integration of AI in medicine requires careful consideration to ensure safety and efficacy
GPT-4’s is better than some licensed doctors
In the upcoming book “The AI Revolution in Medicine,” Dr. Isaac Kohane (a computer scientist and physician at Harvard), Carey Goldberg (a journalist), and Peter Lee (Microsoft VP of Research) explore GPT-4’s capabilities and potential applications in healthcare.
Dr. Kohane reveals that GPT-4 answered US medical exam licensing questions with a 90% accuracy rate, outperforming its predecessors GPT-3 and GPT-3.5, as well as some licensed doctors. Apart from its test-taking prowess, GPT-4 is also a skilled translator and can simplify complex medical terminology for easy comprehension.
The AI model can even offer guidance on compassionate communication with patients, summarize lengthy reports, and exhibit problem-solving abilities that resemble human intelligence.
Diagnosing like a doctor
In a clinical thought experiment, GPT-4 quickly and correctly diagnosed a 1 in 100,000 condition called congenital adrenal hyperplasia based on limited information.
Despite the AI’s impressive performance, Dr. Kohane expressed concern about ensuring the safety and efficacy of GPT-4’s advice for millions of families.
Limitations and ethical considerations
GPT-4 is not without flaws, as the book highlights instances of clerical errors, calculation mistakes, and “hallucinations,” where the AI generates false information. GPT-4 admits to its occasional inaccuracies but emphasizes that it lacks the clinical judgment and ethical responsibility of human healthcare professionals.
For example, there are reports from doctors on Reddit of ChatGPT making dangerous recommendations. Although ChatGPT was right about “70% of the time”, it get things wrong a lot. In one case, it prescribed “a dosage of a medication that in the patient’s case, would significantly worsen his condition”.
To mitigate errors, the authors suggest starting a new session with GPT-4 to review its work, or asking the AI to show its process for human verification. In any event, you should not use ChatGPT to help with any medical condition – it’s still best to see an expert.
Conclusion: The future of AI in medicine
The success of ChatGPT-4 in medical settings holds significant implications for the future of healthcare. Its ability to diagnose rare conditions, provide compassionate communication guidance, and simplify complex information has the potential to revolutionize patient care and save valuable time for healthcare professionals.
However, as the technology continues to advance, we must remain vigilant in addressing its limitations and ethical concerns to ensure the safe and effective integration of AI into the medical field. We can look forward to a future where AI and human expertise work together to improve patient outcomes, streamline medical processes, and enhance the overall quality of healthcare.
