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Throughout history, some of the worlds greatest problems have also been businesses greatest opportunities.

Fast-forward to today, and makers of artificial intelligence systems are already moving to apply the intelligent computing innovations change-the-game potential for efficiency capture and process improvement across some of the most historically siloed and fragmented sectors like Americas vast and disjointed healthcare industry.

Alphabet-owned Google introduced Wednesday (Dec. 13) a new family of generative AI models fine-tuned for the healthcare industry, called MedLM.

Improving healthcare and medicine are among the most promising use cases for artificial intelligence, Google wrote in a blog post, noting that MedLM offers healthcare organizations two separate foundational models built on domain-specific data and designed to meet different operational and care-centered needs.

Healthcare organizations are exploring the use of AI for a range of applications, from basic tasks to complex workflows, per the blog post. Through piloting our tools with different organizations, weve learned the most effective model for a given task varies depending on the use case. For example, summarizing conversations might be best handled by one model, and searching through medications might be better handled by another.

The first MedLM model being offered is larger and designed for more complex workflows, while the second MedLM model is a medium model, which was purpose-built to be further fine-tuned depending on an organizations needs.

Healthcare is a giant sector with many segments and there exist different roles AI can play across the ecosystem that come weighted with different risks and different opportunities.

Beyond just the healthcare space, Googles approach of providing domain-specific models that can built out further with task-oriented training offers clues into how enterprise AI can be best monetized and scaled in the future.

Read also: Can Always-On AI Give Healthcare Providers a Helping Hand?

AI has been revolutionizing medicine over the last few decades, Forward CEO Adrian Aoun told PYMNTS in an interview posted this month. The problem is that it hasnt been doing it in the ways that we care about.

Things need to be built for a world of AI in order for that AI to work and scale, he added.

AI has been in the works for decades, about 75 years, and generative AIs prior, statistically predictive iterations have long been put to work optimizing healthcare insurance pricing and streamlining healthcare system operations with other algorithms humming in the background.

Many of the latest AI innovations are looking to bring AI interfaces into the foreground by helping doctors glean insights from healthcare data in real time and allowing users to find accurate clinical information more efficiently.

Despite the potential benefits of AI in healthcare, PYMNTS Intelligence found that 60% of adults remain uncomfortable with the idea of AI-driven healthcare decisions. Concerns range from biases in AI algorithms to fears that AI may lead to worse outcomes.

One of the threshold concerns is that the data sets being worked on for analytical purposes are not applicable to the individual in question, Tom ONeil, managing director at Berkeley Research Group and former chief compliance officer at Cigna, told PYMNTS in an interview posted in November. I think thats a big issue, and it is better to get out there and talk about it than to surround it with an aura of mystery.

Deploying generative AI across an area as critical as care delivery requires certain guardrails that have been made only voluntarily by domestic tech firms, with AI development in the U.S. taking place absent any binding policies.

Still, there exists an attractive and vast white space opportunity to supplement entrenched and manual healthcare processes with generative AI models that aid workers in completing their tasks.

See also: Healthcare Looks to AI for Potential Home Run Hit

As PYMNTS Karen Webster wrote at the beginning of the year, AIs greatest potential is in creating the knowledge base needed to equip the workforce any worker in any industry with the tools to deliver a consistent, high-quality level of service, quickly and at scale.

This is particularly true within healthcare, as tailoring AI solutions by industry is increasingly proving to be key to scalability.

Worldwide, very few people have access to doctors and the opportunity to have an AI doctor, even if they have just 30%, 50% of an average providers knowledge and capability, is still a massive value add, Beerud Sheth, CEO at conversational AI platform Gupshup, told PYMNTS in an interview posted in November.

Its not hard to imagine a future where healthcare systems might offer bespoke generative AI products for a range of ailments. Patients with a cold or flu would interact with a respiratory illness-trained AI, for example, while those with abrasions or cuts would be directed to an AI system trained to interact with pictures and images of the issue at hand.

Just as doctors are trained in their specialties, so too might the AI healthcare systems of tomorrow.

Still, as PYMNTS Intelligence found, there exists a growing urban-rural divide in access to and participation in digital healthcare services. This gap between access to care and the ability of care to be delivered will need to be addressed and ideally closed.

For all PYMNTS AI coverage, subscribe to the daily AI Newsletter.

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Healthcare AI Models Highlight Role of Trained Point Solutions - PYMNTS.com

ROME (AP) Pope Francis on Thursday called for an international treaty to ensure artificial intelligence is developed and used ethically, arguing that the risks of technology lacking human values of compassion, mercy, morality and forgiveness are too great.

Francis added his voice to increasing calls for binding, global regulation of AI in his annual message for the World Day of Peace, which the Catholic Church celebrates each Jan. 1. The Vatican released the text of the message on Thursday.

For Francis, the appeal is somewhat personal: Earlier this year, an AI-generated image of him wearing a luxury white puffer jacket went viral, showing just how quickly realistic deepfake imagery can spread online.

The popes message was released just days after European Union negotiators secured provisional approval on the worlds first comprehensive AI rules that are expected to serve as a gold standard for governments considering their own regulation.

Francis acknowledged the promise AI offers and praised technological advances as a manifestation of the creativity of human intelligence, echoing the message the Vatican delivered at this years U.N. General Assembly where a host of world leaders raised the promise and perils of the technology.

But his new peace message went further and emphasized the grave, existential concerns that have been raised by ethicists and human rights advocates about the technology that promises to transform everyday life in ways that can disrupt everything from democratic elections to art.

Artificial intelligence may well represent the highest-stakes gamble of our future, said Cardinal Michael Czerny of the Vaticans development office, who introduced the message at a press conference Thursday. If it turns out badly, humanity is to blame.

The document insisted that the technological development and deployment of AI must keep foremost concerns about guaranteeing fundamental human rights, promoting peace and guarding against disinformation, discrimination and distortion.

Pope Francis leaves after an audience with sick people and Lourdes pilgrimage operators in the Paul VI Hall, at the Vatican, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Pope Francis leaves after an audience with sick people and Lourdes pilgrimage operators in the Paul VI Hall, at the Vatican, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Francis greatest alarm was devoted to the use of AI in the armaments sector, which has been a frequent focus of the Jesuit pope who has called even traditional weapons makers merchants of death.

He noted that remote weapons systems had already led to a distancing from the immense tragedy of war and a lessened perception of the devastation caused by those weapons systems and the burden of responsibility for their use.

The unique capacity for moral judgment and ethical decision-making is more than a complex collection of algorithms, and that capacity cannot be reduced to programming a machine, he wrote.

He called for adequate, meaningful and consistent human oversight of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (or LAWS), arguing that the world has no need for new technologies that merely end up promoting the folly of war.

On a more basic level, he warned about the profound repercussions on humanity of automated systems that rank citizens or categorize them. In addition to the threats to jobs around the world that can be done by robots, Francis noted that such technology could determine the reliability of an applicant for a mortgage, the right of a migrant to receive political asylum or the chance of reoffending by someone previously convicted of a crime.

Algorithms must not be allowed to determine how we understand human rights, to set aside the essential human values of compassion, mercy and forgiveness, or to eliminate the possibility of an individual changing and leaving his or her past behind, he wrote.

For Francis, the issue hits at some of his priorities as pope to denounce social injustices, advocate for migrants and minister to prisoners and those on the margins of society.

The popes message didnt delve into details of a possible binding treaty other than to say it must be negotiated at a global level, to both promote best practices and prevent harmful ones. Technology companies alone cannot be trusted to regulate themselves, he said.

He repurposed arguments he has used before to denounce multinationals that have ravaged Earths national resources and impoverished the Indigenous peoples who live off them.

Freedom and peaceful coexistence are threatened whenever human beings yield to the temptation to selfishness, self-interest, the desire for profit and the thirst for power, he wrote.

Barbara Caputo, professor at the Turin Polytechnic universitys Artificial Intelligence Hub, noted that there was already convergence on some fundamental ethical issues and definitions in both the EUs regulation and the executive order unveiled by U.S. President Joe Biden in October.

This is no small thing, she told the Vatican briefing. This means that whoever wants to produce artificial intelligence, there is a common regulatory base.

Original post:
Pope, once a victim of AI-generated imagery, calls for treaty to regulate artificial intelligence - WBRZ

SWISS International Airlines is to install a new digital boarding system on its aircraft, which will uses artificial intelligence to conduct a passenger count and make sure no stowaways have managed to sneak onboard.

The Zurich-based carrier has decided to adopt the system after a successful three-month trial conducted earlier this year. During the trial, the airline wanted to make sure that the AI model could work in various light conditions and detect a parent carrying an infant in their arms.

Unlike some airlines that rely on automated passenger reconciliation via boarding pass scanners, cabin crew at the Swiss flag carrier are still required to conduct a manual headcount of passengers using an old-fashioned clicker.

The new system makes that process obsolete, and SWISS says it expects the boarding process to be a lot quicker as a result.

Developed by Berlin-based tech startup Vion AI, the new passenger count system works with a camera installed at the boarding door, which monitors people coming and going from the plane.

A prototype of the system was only developed earlier this year, but during the trial conducted by SWISS, the airline found that it conducted passenger boarding counts reliably under a wide range of conditions.

Further work is, however, required to develop and refine the system and the airline doesnt expect to start installing the system across its fleet until later in 2024. Initially, the short-haul fleet will have the system fitted from the third quarter of 2024, while work to install the cameras on long-haul aircraft will begin in the final three months of 2024.

In the meantime, some aircraft will have the system installed as part of the ongoing development of the AI software but crew members will still be required to conduct manual passenger counts.

Addressing privacy concerns, SWISS says all data will be processed in full compliance with the strict European and Swiss data protection rules.

In adopting this AI-based solution for counting our passengers during boarding, were taking another major step forward into the digital future, commented Oliver Buchhofer, SWISSs Head of Operations.

The use of artificial intelligence will help make the boarding process faster and more efficient, Buchhofer continued. This in turn will reduce waiting times and give our guests a pleasanter travel experience. The new digital count will ease the workload on our cabin crews, too.

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Mateusz Maszczynski honed his skills as an international flight attendant at the most prominent airline in the Middle East and has been flying throughout the COVID-19 pandemic for a well-known European airline. Matt is passionate about the aviation industry and has become an expert in passenger experience and human-centric stories. Always keeping an ear close to the ground, Matt's industry insights, analysis and news coverage is frequently relied upon by some of the biggest names in journalism.

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SWISS International Airlines to Use Artificial Intelligence to Count Passengers With Special Cameras Installed at the ... - paddleyourownkanoo.com

Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared briefly lost for words on Thursday when confronted with an AI-generated version of himself.

The "double" took the opportunity to put a question to Putin about artificial intelligence during an annual news conference where dozens of callers from around the country were hooked up to the president by video link.

"Vladimir Vladimirovich, hello, I am a student at St Petersburg state university. I want to ask, is it true you have a lot of doubles?" the double asked, prompting laughter among the audience in the hall with Putin in Moscow.

"And also: How do you view the dangers that artificial intelligence and neural networks bring into our lives?"

The question prompted a rare hesitation from Putin, already in his fourth hour of taking questions at the marathon event.

"I see you may resemble me and speak with my voice. But I have thought about it and decided that only one person must be like me and speak with my voice, and that will be me," he said.

There has been recurrent speculation, particularly in Western media, that Putin has one or more body doubles to cover for him in some public appearances because of alleged health problems. The Kremlin had denied that and said the president's health is excellent.

Originally posted here:
Vladimir Putin lost for words as he confronts his AI 'double' - The Jerusalem Post

Is Studying Artificial Intelligence In University A Useless Pursuit? A Critical Look At The Claims and Realities

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has ignited a firestorm of debate, particularly within the realm of education. While its potential to revolutionize industries and reshape our lives is undeniable, questions remain about the value of studying it in a formal university setting. Critics argue that AI is a rapidly evolving field, rendering established academic frameworks obsolete and leaving graduates ill-equipped for the ever-shifting landscape. Is this a valid concern, or is studying AI at university still a worthwhile investment?

The Case Against Studying AI:

Rapidly Changing Field: Critics claim the field of AI is evolving at breakneck speed, making it impossible for academic curriculum to keep pace. New algorithms and breakthroughs emerge constantly, rendering existing knowledge outdated and potentially irrelevant by the time graduates enter the workforce. Overly Theoretical: Accusations abound that university AI courses focus excessively on theoretical foundations and mathematical underpinnings, neglecting practical skills needed for real-world applications. Graduates may possess deep theoretical understanding but lack the practical ability to implement AI solutions or navigate the complexities of real-world data and systems. Job Market Saturation: Some argue that the AI job market is becoming saturated, leading to fierce competition for a limited number of positions. With universities churning out a growing number of AI graduates, the fear is that many will struggle to find meaningful employment in the field. Alternatives Exist: Critics point to alternative avenues for acquiring AI skills, such as online bootcamps, self-directed learning through online resources, and hands-on experience through personal projects. These alternatives, they argue, can provide practical skills at a lower cost and without the constraints of a traditional academic setting.

Countering the Arguments:

Building a Strong Foundation: While the field of AI is undoubtedly dynamic, a solid understanding of its core principles remains crucial. University courses provide this foundational knowledge, enabling graduates to adapt and learn new skills as the field evolves. This adaptability is critical in a rapidly changing environment. Developing Critical

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Is Studying Artificial Intelligence In University A Useless Pursuit? - Medium