Google is making strides in the development of an AI-based diagnostic dialogue system that can conduct medical interviews. A team of AI researchers from Google Research and Google DeepMind has published a paper detailing their research on the arXiv preprint server.

During a medical interview, doctors gather information from patients to identify the medical issue at hand. While these interviews are often efficient and accurate, the researchers acknowledge that there is room for improvement, particularly in terms of the doctors’ bedside manner. Some doctors may come across as stiff or detached due to various reasons, such as personality traits, busy schedules, or dealing with challenging patients.

The Google research team noticed that many language models, such as ChatGPT, display empathetic qualities and a willingness to help. This observation inspired them to develop an AI model that could potentially enhance the doctor-patient interview experience. The resulting experimental system, called the Articulate Medical Intelligence Explorer (AMIE), aims to improve accuracy and bedside manner in medical interviews.

Building AMIE posed unique challenges for the researchers as there is a limited amount of publicly available doctor-patient interview data for training purposes. To overcome this hurdle, they opted for a novel approach. Initially, they trained the system using the available data and then encouraged it to train itself by assuming the role of an individual with a specific illness. Subsequently, they prompted it to act as a critic who had witnessed several interviews conducted by the system.

To evaluate the system’s performance, the researchers conducted interviews with 20 volunteers trained to simulate patients. Medical professionals assessed the accuracy of the system’s diagnoses, while the volunteers evaluated its bedside manner.

The results were promising. AMIE demonstrated diagnostic accuracy comparable to trained doctors and achieved better scores in terms of bedside manner. The Google team plans to enhance the system’s capabilities through further testing in realistic conditions and by refining its bedside manner.

The development of AMIE showcases Google’s commitment to utilizing AI technology to improve healthcare. By leveraging AI-based diagnostic dialogue tools, doctors may enhance their interactions with patients and ultimately enhance the overall healthcare experience. As this research progresses, it has the potential to revolutionize the way medical interviews are conducted, leading to more accurate diagnoses and improved patient care.

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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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