AI Can Replace Median Doctors" - Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI

As someone who has been inside and beyond the hospital walls, with time on Wall Street + the Harvard Business School, consulting the healthcare business world, I was both astonished and concerned by a recent interview by OpenAI's hashtag#SamAltman stating that an example of Artificial General Intelligence or hashtag#AGI is where a "median human" could go learn how to be go be a doctor.

TECHNOLOGYAI

Mahek A. Shah

8/18/20241 min read

As someone who has been inside and beyond the hospital walls, with time on Wall Street + the Harvard Business School, consulting the healthcare business world, I was both astonished and concerned by a recent interview by OpenAI's hashtag#SamAltman stating that an example of Artificial General Intelligence or hashtag#AGI is where a "median human" could go learn how to be go be a doctor. This perspective oversimplifies the profound expertise, rigorous training, and deep commitment required to practice medicine effectively. Though the current healthcare system may constrain our full capabilities, tech bros should not simplify the clinician to mere a robot behind a computer with inputs from a guideline-fueled hashtag#LLM.

Doctors are not merely average individuals; we are highly trained professionals who dedicate years to mastering the intricacies of human health. Our work involves not only understanding complex biological systems but also identifying the nuances in clinical care that can mean the difference between life and death. Each patient presents a unique set of challenges that require critical thinking, empathy, and a holistic approach to care.

Medicine is not just about applying knowledge; it’s about understanding the subtleties of each patient’s condition, navigating uncertainties, and making decisions that can have lifelong impacts. It requires a blend of scientific precision, continuous learning, and a commitment to ethical principles that go far beyond what could be expected of the "median" person.

Let’s not forget the value of this expertise and the dedication it demands. We owe it to our patients to uphold the standards of our profession and to recognize the complexities inherent in the art and science of medicine.

Instead of tech bro CEOs talking about how AGI could replace Doctors, lets instead leverage talented Doctors who want to partner with and sit with tech CEOs, in the room, to build and collaborate on technology to augment the healthcare experience. We owe it to our patients because we are all consumers of care.

#Healthcare #Medicine #ClinicalExcellence #MedicalEducation #Patient