Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare: A Journey through History, Present Innovations, and Future Possibilities

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool in healthcare significantly impacting practices from diagnostics to treatment delivery and patient management. This article examines the progress of AI in healthcare, starting from the field's inception in the 1960s to present-day innovative applications in areas such as precision medicine, robotic surgery, and drug development. In addition, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the acceleration of the use of AI in technologies such as telemedicine and chatbots to enhance accessibility and improve medical education is also explored. Looking forward, the paper speculates on the promising future of AI in healthcare while critically addressing the ethical and societal considerations that accompany the integration of AI technologies. Furthermore, the potential to mitigate health disparities and the ethical implications surrounding data usage and patient privacy are discussed, emphasizing the need for evolving guidelines to govern AI's application in healthcare.

Keywords: artificial intelligence; chatbots; digital health; machine learning; neural networks; personalized medicine; regulatory considerations; telemedicine.

Figure 1

A concentric circle diagram demonstrating the relationships between different aspects of artificial intelligence [18]. Each circle delves into more granular aspects of the field, eventually converging on neural networks and deep learning—some of AI’s most sophisticated applications.

Figure 2

Application of AI in various domains of the healthcare ecosystem.

Figure 3

Non-exhaustive visual representation of AI techniques on example data types.

Figure 4

Visualization of the substantial surge in telemedicine usage during the COVID-19 pandemic and its sustained elevation post pandemic, presented through the percentage change in telemedicine health claims’ volume compared to the corresponding month in 2019. Data retrieved from: https://www.fairhealth.org/fh-trackers/telehealth (accessed on 17 November 2023).

Figure 5

Comparative analysis of telemedicine claims highlighting the prevalence of behavioral and mental health conditions, a consistent trend observed during the pandemic and extending into both pre- and post-pandemic periods. Data retrieved from: https://www.fairhealth.org/fh-trackers/telehealth (accessed on 17 November 2023).