Can you imagine a computer recommending to oncologists what type of treatment would be best for their patients? Similar technology is already used by IBM Watson, a computing system providing them the assistance they need to make more informed and personalised treatment decisions.
The system was trained by a specialised team from the Memorial Sloan Kettering in the US, and then spread throughout the world. The Watson for Oncology helps doctors quickly identify key information in a patient’s medical record, relevant surface evidence and explore treatment options.
You can find it also in Slovakia: it has been used by 10 hospitals united in the Svet Zdravia network since last March.
“The Watson for Oncology recommends to every patient the best treatment available at the moment and provided in the best hospitals in the world,” Fridrich Matejík, country leader at IBM Slovakia, said at the mid-May conference organised in Bratislava by the American Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia (AmCham).
The system works only as an assistant, with the final decision still being made by the oncologist. The advantage is that the doctor can compare the possibilities based on the experience of some 400 other physicians. So far, they have consulted the treatment of more than 500 patients.
AI in use
The Watson for Oncology is only one of the examples of how the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in practice. The whole sector is gradually transforming all society, including key industries.
“AI is the very core of what will shape the future of the economy and Slovakia,” said Peter Kolesár, board member of AmCham, at the Artificial Intelligence & Data Science conference. “It is up to us how we respond to this challenge.”
Several companies in Slovakia are already working on implementing AI solutions in their everyday work and processes. Apart from automating processes and using robots to carry out some repetitive tasks, they use chatbots to conduct conversations via auditory or textual methods, or various types of virtual assistants.
Automation for more efficiency
One of the most frequent forms of using AI is automating certain processes that are not efficient. The aim is to reduce costs, increase efficiency and improve controls.
