Demetris Skourides, Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation and Technology of Cyprus, addressed the 8th Annual Meeting of the European Forum for Medical Advancement in Limassol, Cyprus, discussing the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare.
Skourides highlighted AI's potential to augment medical professionals, stating, "Artificial intelligence and robotics will augment medical professionals in what I refer to as Human Centric Augmentation, giving medical professionals AI superpowers." He emphasized that a more sophisticated large language model trained with medical data is necessary to unlock AI's full potential in healthcare.
He noted that AI can improve diagnostics, preventive medicine, personalized treatment, and clinical trials, ultimately making healthcare more affordable. Skourides mentioned that AI tools could lead to faster decision-making and reduced medical risks for patients.
In discussing medical education, he stressed the importance of integrating AI into the curriculum to equip future professionals with essential tools to combat diseases.
Skourides also shared insights on Cyprus's healthcare research funding, amounting to €41 million since 2016, and highlighted innovative local companies using AI for healthcare research.
During a panel discussion, he addressed AI ethics, reassuring that AI should be seen as a supportive tool for medical professionals rather than a threat. He concluded by urging the need for awareness and upskilling to effectively leverage AI in healthcare.