Accelerating Visual Tasks Using Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

 

In a special series of the Accelerate Health podcasts, we spotlight unique digital health startups changing the face of healthcare. This episode features Chooch AI, a company using artificial intelligence for visual tasks in healthcare and other industries.

In our discussion, Chooch AI’s CEO, Emrah Gultekin, shared the possibilities of broadening the scope of AI by copying human visual intelligence in machines for numerous applications across industries, instead of just focusing on vertical applications. The AI life cycle, from data site collection to model training and inferencing, allows AI to make predictions. Gultekin discussed the potential to leverage that ability in many different spaces, including healthcare.

As one example, in surgical operating rooms many different actions happen at the same time, from doors opening and closing to anesthesia being given and incisions being made. AI assists by being trained to understand actions in the OR. It logs actions and sends alerts to the OR team if a step was  not timed properly. A “smart OR” would allow the nurses and surgical team to focus on the patient, rather than logging on to multiple software systems to monitor events.

The conversation with Gultekin touched on the idea that visual detection technology can work in numerous settings, from a construction site to retail stores, and can translate easily to hospitals.

“In healthcare, you have lots of visual tasks – whether it's cell counting or patient gestures, or maybe operating rooms where actions are happening,” Gultekin said.

 He helps clients define healthcare use cases by asking questions. “What visual tasks do they want to automate, or what visual tasks can they think of where a machine would be more efficient? Start with that, then you can use some of the pre-trained models or build custom models,” he said.

Gultekin talked about how AI can improve both efficiency and equity at the same time. These benefits help eliminateobjections that have made companies and organizations hesitant to move ahead with artificial intelligence platforms, whether in healthcare or other segments.

“I want to send that message to people who have some doubts or fears about AI, and who don't want to adopt it so quickly. There is a positive outcome for everybody for AI. That's my message to everyone,” Gultekin said.

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