Artificial intelligence: Friend or foe?

摘要

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn like humans. AI has the potential to revolutionise the way that healthcare professionals diagnose, treat, and manage conditions affecting the female reproductive system. Machine learning (ML) is a subset of AI which deals with the development of algorithms and statistical models that enable computers to learn from and make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed to do so. Deep learning (DL) is a subfield of ML that utilises neural networks with multiple layers, known as deep neural networks (DNNs), to learn from data. DNNs are inspired by the structure and function of the human brain and are capable of automatically learning high-level features from raw data, such as images, audio and text. DL has been very successful in various applications such as image and speech recognition, natural language processing and computer vision. ML algorithms can be divided into three categories: supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning. Supervised learning algorithms are trained on a labelled dataset, where the desired output (label) is already known. Unsupervised learning algorithms are trained on an unlabelled dataset and are used to discover patterns or relationships in the data. Reinforcement learning algorithms are trained using a trial-and-error approach, where the agent receives a reward or penalty for its actions. The goal of reinforcement learning is to learn a policy that maximises the expected reward over time. AI and ML are increasingly being applied in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology, with the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy, patient outcomes, and efficiency of care. AI has been applied to the field of medicine for several decades. One of the earliest examples of AI in medicine was the development of MYCIN in the 1970s, a computer program that could diagnose bacterial infections and recommend appropriate antibiotic treatments. MYCIN was developed by a team at Stanford University led by Edward Shortliffe, and its success demonstrated the potential of AI in medical decision making. In the 1980s, AI-based expert systems such as DXplain, developed at Massachusetts General Hospital, were used to assist in the diagnosis of diseases. These early AI systems were based on rule-based systems and were limited in their capabilities. One of the earliest examples of AI was the development of computer-aided diagnostic systems for ultrasound images in the 1970s and 1980s. These systems were designed to assist radiologists in identifying fetal anomalies and other conditions. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the use of AI in obstetrics and gynaecology, driven by advances in ML and the availability of large amounts of data. One of the primary areas in which AI and ML are being used in obstetrics and gynaecology is in the analysis of imaging data, such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. AI algorithms can be trained to automatically identify and classify different structures in the images, such as the placenta or fetal organs, with high accuracy. Another area of focus is the use of AI to predict preterm birth. Researchers have used ML algorithms to analyse data from electronic health records and identify patterns that are associated with preterm birth. By analysing large datasets of patient information and outcomes, AI algorithms can identify patterns and risk factors that may not be apparent to human analysts. This can help to improve the prediction of obstetric outcomes and guide clinical decision making. In recent years, AI has also been applied in obstetrics and gynaecology for real-time monitoring of high-risk pregnancies and identifying fetal distress. These systems use ML algorithms to analyse data from fetal heart rate monitors and identify patterns that are associated with fetal distress. AI and ML are also being used to develo