IBM Drops $1 Billion On Medical Images For Watson

An anonymous reader writes: IBM is purchasing a company called Merge Healthcare for $1 billion. The company specializes in medical imaging software, and it will be a key new resource for IBM's Watson AI. Big blue's researchers estimate that 90% of all medical data is contained within images. Having a trove of them and the software to mine that data should help Watson learn how to make more accurate diagnoses. IBM thinks it'll also provide better context for run-of-the-mill medical imaging. "[A] radiologist might examine thousands of patient images a day, but only looking for abnormalities on the images themselves rather than also taking into account a person's medical history, treatments and drug regimens." They can program Watson to do both. The AI is already landing contracts to assist with medical issues: "Last week, IBM announced a partnership with CVS Health, the large pharmacy chain, to develop data-driven services to help people with chronic ailments like diabetes and heart disease better manage their health."

Comments

Re:May be the only way to bring down healthcare co

[jedidiah]

The funny part about this and the collaboration with CVS is that they just took a bunch of best of breed drugs off of their list of covered medications. These are drugs for the management of serious conditions like diabetes, MS, and transplants.

If this, or any tech, is being used by an insurance company then it's likely purpose is to stiff policy holders.