Even though doctors are very smart and have a lot of training, they are not perfect and can get tired. Doctors often work long hours with limited time for each person. These pressures can lead to mistakes, such as guessing wrong about a sickness or not knowing about the newest ways to help someone. The article points out that these kinds of human errors are a big problem, sometimes causing harm to many patients.
This is where smart computers, or artificial intelligence (AI), can offer a powerful solution. An AI doesn’t get tired and can look at a huge amount of health information all day and night. It is excellent at spotting small patterns that a person might miss, which is very helpful for figuring out rare diseases. For example, the AI was able to help a patient get a correct diagnosis after they had seen 17 different doctors without success. Beyond helping doctors with hard-to-find answers, AI can also help people who can’t easily get to a clinic. It can act like a “doctor in your pocket,” giving quick advice and making basic care available to millions of people who have trouble with transportation or work schedules.
While AI has its own set of weaknesses, we should compare it to the real problems in our current healthcare system, not to a perfect one that doesn’t exist. AI can help to reduce the very real and sometimes unsafe issues that come from human factors. By using AI alongside our doctors and nurses, we can create a system that is much safer and more reliable.
Source: Blease, C. (2025, 31 agosto). The Big Idea: why we should embrace AI doctors. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/aug/31/the-big-idea-why-we-should-embrace-ai-doctors