AI’s potential to revolutionize healthcare dominates headlines and academic journals. But one critical voice is underrepresented: patients. By Gilles Frydman, pioneer (since the 1990s) of patient communities and peer-to-peer care.
The study titled "ChatGPT (GPT-4) versus doctors on complex cases of the Swedish family medicine specialist examination: an observational comparative study" was published in BMJ Open in 2024. The researchers compared GPT-4's performance to that of human doctors on complex cases from the Swedish family medicine specialist examination. They found that GPT-4 scored lower than both randomly selected and top-tier human doctors, indicating that while AI has potential in medical decision support, it currently underperforms compared to human specialists in complex primary care scenarios.
This underscores the need for comprehensive evaluations before implementing AI-based chatbots in primary care settings.
Thank you for engaging with my comment and raising these important questions. I completely agree that collaboration is essential when it comes to AI in healthcare. My point in referencing this study is not to suggest that patients should avoid using AI altogether, but rather to highlight the limitations of current technology in handling complex medical cases.
While AI tools like GPT-4 can provide valuable information and support, they are not yet reliable enough to fully depend on for critical medical decisions. The study underscores that even in controlled scenarios, AI struggles with the nuance and complexity that human expertise provides.
That said, AI can still be a powerful ally for patients-helping them understand medical terminology, generating questions to ask their healthcare providers, and even offering general health guidance. However, it’s essential for patients to verify AI-generated information with qualified professionals. This verification ensures that recommendations are safe, evidence-based, and tailored to the individual’s unique circumstances.
In short, my point is that AI should complement, not replace, the expertise of healthcare providers. By understanding the strengths and limitations of these tools, we can empower patients to use AI responsibly and effectively in their healthcare journeys.
This very nicely illustrates the exponential escalation of technology. What will quantum computing offer
I know, right??
I'm pretty sure quantum computing won't soon be performing the nephrectomy I needed though... and I won't soon stop going to doctors!
The study titled "ChatGPT (GPT-4) versus doctors on complex cases of the Swedish family medicine specialist examination: an observational comparative study" was published in BMJ Open in 2024. The researchers compared GPT-4's performance to that of human doctors on complex cases from the Swedish family medicine specialist examination. They found that GPT-4 scored lower than both randomly selected and top-tier human doctors, indicating that while AI has potential in medical decision support, it currently underperforms compared to human specialists in complex primary care scenarios.
This underscores the need for comprehensive evaluations before implementing AI-based chatbots in primary care settings.
[Edited]
Yes, this study has been widely discussed on social media, as I imagine you know.
What's your point? This post didn't say a word about implementing AI-based chatbots in primary care settings.
Are you asserting that patients should not use AI? If not, what is the relevance of that study to this post?
I could ask more questions but it makes more sense to first receive your response. Thanks for engaging.
Hi Dave,
Thank you for engaging with my comment and raising these important questions. I completely agree that collaboration is essential when it comes to AI in healthcare. My point in referencing this study is not to suggest that patients should avoid using AI altogether, but rather to highlight the limitations of current technology in handling complex medical cases.
While AI tools like GPT-4 can provide valuable information and support, they are not yet reliable enough to fully depend on for critical medical decisions. The study underscores that even in controlled scenarios, AI struggles with the nuance and complexity that human expertise provides.
That said, AI can still be a powerful ally for patients-helping them understand medical terminology, generating questions to ask their healthcare providers, and even offering general health guidance. However, it’s essential for patients to verify AI-generated information with qualified professionals. This verification ensures that recommendations are safe, evidence-based, and tailored to the individual’s unique circumstances.
In short, my point is that AI should complement, not replace, the expertise of healthcare providers. By understanding the strengths and limitations of these tools, we can empower patients to use AI responsibly and effectively in their healthcare journeys.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!