The evolving role of artificial intelligence in healthcare is a topic proving to be ripe for exploration. AI tools like ChatGPT, for example, are being utilized by physicians to draft text, but reported inaccuracies and other glitches necessitate further review to ensure precision and readability.

For Dr. Michael Wallace, the director of the Mayo Clinic’s digestive diseases program, the forefront of this journey is the need to understand AI’s potential application in gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. 

That’s what he writes in an article he authored — with the help of ChatGPT — for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, published by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

AI, according to Wallace, should be phased into GI endoscopy practices, in research or pilot projects done in controlled environments. This approach enables thorough evaluation while minimizing disruptions to work with patients. It also ensures proper training.

AI integration requires, among other things, thoughtful attention to regulatory compliance and ethical guidelines, he adds. And transparency with patients about AI’s role in diagnosis and treatment decisions is crucial.

Applying constant feedback loops in these and other clinical practice areas will enable AI models to constantly refine and enhance its clinical utility, according to Wallace.

In a guest post for Endoscopedia, a GIE blog, Wallace — who is also a healthcare technology consultant — expands a bit on his original column by highlighting the rapid emergence of U.S. Food and Drug Administration–approved AI tools for endoscopy. These include systems for polyp detection and classification, which are already being used.

Single-use endoscope manufacturers are also enhancing their platforms by utilizing AI’s ability to analyze high-resolution endoscopy images —and, ultimately, enhancing patient care.

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