The conversation around the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) often revolves around upskilling and reskilling in various professional fields. However, a recent study sheds light on a less discussed phenomenon: de-skilling. New research suggests that doctors who rely heavily on AI for cancer detection during colonoscopy procedures have experienced a decline in their effectiveness without the technology.
This study, published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, aimed to investigate how consistent use of AI influences the performance of endoscopists when AI is not in play. Researchers examined how these physicians fared when conducting colonoscopies without AI assistance.
The findings were concerning: the performance rate for cancer detection was approximately six percentage points lower without AI support.
Conducted by medical professionals and researchers from multiple countries including Poland, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Japan, the study focused on doctors at four endoscopy centers in Poland. These centers were involved in a trial program exploring AI’s role in enhancing colonoscopic procedures for cancer prevention.
These results prompt critical discussions about the implications of AI in healthcare, particularly regarding its benefits and possible drawbacks. Recent coverage, including a report by Technology News, highlighted incidents where AI models have made erroneous assumptions, further fueling concerns about the future direction of AI in the medical field.
