Public health experts are warning of potential harms that can arise from artificial intelligence when used to improve healthcare. Writing in the BMJ Global Health journal, health professionals from various countries, such as the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Costa Rica and Malaysia, argued that while AI can have a positive role in improving healthcare, it can also lead to health inequalities.
AI can produce bias through including discrimination and misinterpretation of information, potentially creating and deepening social inequalities when it comes to healthcare access. The background noise of AI literature highlights its potential benefits, whilst overlooking the potential for errors and the causal problems that can arise due to a failure in regulation.
Data security and privacy are other concerns raised in the journal article, as well as the potential for AI systems to cause harm through errors. Effective regulation is recommended and that there be a pause on AI research and development until they are established.
More recently, world-renowned AI experts, including one known as “The Godfather of AI” have been vocal about the potential harm that can be caused by an unregulated AI. Elon Musk and other scientists recently issued an open letter advocating a six-month pause on the development of advanced AI systems. This was to ensure the safety of humanity and prevent an AI arms race developing between tech companies.
