Benefits of artificial intelligence in people's lives

Photo: Brooke Cagle

It is clear that AI has changed the way our world looks and functions. Throughout the last decade, AI has been getting better and better at performing many different tasks. It has definitely changed and influenced many areas of our lives, including healthcare, and in this article, we will take a look at exactly how beneficial artificial intelligence is in people's lives, with the primary focus on observing the benefits of AI for patients.

Defining Artificial intelligence

Before we go into analyzing the ways AI has impacted patients and humans in general, let's briefly discuss what we mean exactly when we say artificial intelligence, or AI for short. Essentially, AI provides a computer program the ability to think and learn on its own. With new technologies such as machine learning and natural language processing or NLP for short, AI has now become more powerful and effective than ever. We could categorize AI into three different categories. AI can be split into:

• Weak AI - Focuses on one task

• Strong AI - Can perform many different tasks and understands the tasks of humans

• Super AI - While still a concept, this kind of AI could perform any human task efficiently and successfully

What do these two technologies, machine learning, and NLP, enable AI to do so well? Basically, machine learning helps AI constantly learn and grow. NLP allows it to understand human languages, metaphors, and slang, and therefore, AI can communicate with humans completely naturally.

Artificial intelligence has greatly helped humans in many different industries and this also includes the healthcare industry as well. Healthcare systems are gradually moving towards digitalization and the use of AI is now more frequent than ever. Let's take a look at some of the main benefits AI has brought to humans.

Reduction in human error

We as humans are not perfect. All of us make mistakes and sometimes we learn from them but sometimes we end up making the same mistakes again. AI functions a bit differently. Once it is taught something, AI cannot repeat the same mistake again. Therefore, the margin for error is reduced by a lot. The decisions taken by AI in every step are decided on information previously gathered. It also follows a certain set of algorithms. When programmed and implemented properly, any errors can be reduced to null.

Gathering huge amounts of data

Humans cannot process data and information in the same way AI can. That is why for any kind of analytics or information gathering, AI is far superior. The ability to store and process a huge amount of data is also incredibly helpful to any healthcare system. This is another way AI helps in healthcare.

24/7 availability

Ai can work and function 24/7 when it is properly implemented into a system. For example, the world of healthcare has long relied on call centers to communicate with patients and perform the scheduling process. However, with AI, call centers are becoming a bit obsolete. AI powered by the NLP engine can solve many problems that call centers have. One of them is availability. Namely, AI can work with and communicate with multiple patients efficiently 24/7. Call centers cannot accomplish this.

Digital services and assistance

Now we come to one of the major benefits of AI for humans. As we saw during the global pandemic of 2020, many services including healthcare services were overwhelmed and not prepared for the increased number of patients. AI has proven as a very effective tool to combat these issues. With innovative digital tools and services powered by AI, humans can engage with their healthcare providers easily and stress-free without the need for in-person communication and without having to go through call centers.

Digital assistants are also included here. With NLP and machine learning, AI can communicate with humans as if it were a regular human being. Furthermore, as mentioned above, it can also perform many different tasks. How does this reflect on the healthcare system in particular and how does it help the patients? Well, AI can communicate with patients and perform tasks such as scheduling, rescheduling, confirmation of appointments, preventive campaigns, telemedicine, and so on. This means that patients can get the information they need about their healthcare journey quickly and easily. Also, patients can engage in communication with their healthcare providers at any time and from the comfort of their homes. Moreover, clinics can now reach patients living in remote areas successfully. All of the different digital tools and services provided by AI help patients experience a better, and more relaxing healthcare journey and increase the effectiveness of health clinics. In short, AI has shown with clear results the potential of completely revolutionizing the modern healthcare system and the way in which clinics communicate with patients.

Unbiased decisions

We all know that humans are run by emotions. Emotions simply get in the way and end up making an objective decision slightly subjective every time. However, AI is very different. AI is basically devoid of emotions and highly practical and rational in its approach. It does not follow any given set of emotions when gathering data and making a decision. However, it can detect human ways of response including speed, length, etc., and thus form a proper response. Thanks to unbiased decision-making, AI can help industries create accurate decisions.

The benefits of AI in people's lives

To sum up, there are many benefits of artificial intelligence in people's lives. The faster and more accurate decision-making, the incredible ability to gather huge amounts of data, 24/7 availability, and powerful technologies such as machine learning, and NLP are some of the major benefits that have enabled AI to revolutionize many areas of our everyday lives including healthcare.