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X Prize Foundation Wants AI Physician On Every Smartphone

Posted by Soulskill on from the universal-health-care dept.

kkleiner writes "One of the exciting ideas being tossed around recently at the X Prize Foundation is the creation of an Artificial Intelligence physician that you could access from your smartphone. Want to know if that rash on your leg is poison ivy or smallpox? Take a photo of it with your phone and ask the AI. The possibilities are enormous, especially for the billion plus people around the world who live more than a few hours' walk or drive from the nearest doctor." This is one of four X Prizes in planning for the future. The other three are for an AI automobile driver, organ generation through stem cell use, and a deep sea submersible capable of exploring the sea floor.

2 of 245 comments (clear)

  1. fun thought by tangelogee · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I would totally buy it if it said "Please state the nature of the medical emergency."

  2. Re:Internet hypochondria is already a phenomenon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    Actually, it will never happen because the risk of liability is too high.

    Person: "Magic Phone Doctor, I have a rash on my arm. What is it?"

    Phone: "Analysis complete: rash caused by mosquito bite. Harmless."

    -- 2 months later --

    Real doctor: "This rash is an indication of Ultra-Killer-Pneumonia. If only we had diagnosed this earlier, we could have saved the arm. Oh well; nurse, get me the bone saw!"

    Person: "Judge, I demand reparations from the phone company in the amount of thirty gajillion dollars."

    --

    So, yeah, this isn't going to happen. Not in sue-happy America, at least.