AI on a par with X-ray specialists

ARTIFICIAL intelligence (AI) is just as good at spotting medical issues on an X-ray as specialists, it is claimed.

Researchers at the University of Warwick presented the ‘learning’ software with nearly two million historic X-rays that contained the signs of 37 different medical conditions.

Results showed that about 95 per cent of the time the AI – called X-Raydar – was as accurate at diagnosing the patient as the radiologist who reviewed the scan at the time, or even more so.

Experts say that the findings could revolutionise NHS radiology, increasing the speed and accuracy of scans.

‘Comprehensive AI programs like this will be the future of medicine, with AI acting as a co-pilot for busy doctors,’ says Professor Vicky Goh, a radiology expert at King’s College London.