Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google, Microsoft (MS), and other global IT corporations are focusing on the development of artificial intelligence (AI) for healthcare. This is due to the worsening shortage of medical personnel caused by the global aging phenomenon. IT corporations are stepping into the healthcare market by developing AI that can write medical referral letters instead of people or find treatments without visiting hospitals.
According to industry reports on the 3rd, Naver Cloud has hired interns this month to research healthcare AI technology. Naver Cloud stated that the newly hired staff will collaborate with various organizations within Naver and large hospitals to develop prototypes of AI services related to healthcare.
The healthcare-specialized AI is also a field identified by founder Lee Hae-jin, who recently returned to Naver’s board of directors. At the 'Digital and Bio Innovation Forum' held last month in Seoul, the founder noted, "Naver's investment in healthcare AI is genuine, and considering how Naver will survive in the era of AI and lead the industry, I believe the clue lies here."
Starting from the 18th of last month, Google expanded its AI search capabilities into healthcare. The AI filters various relevant data collected from medical personnel to present it to users. Users can gain information about allergies, medications, and vaccinations without having to visit hospitals directly. Additionally, it has a new search feature providing medical information called "health advice." For instance, it recommends exercises suitable for arthritis patients.
MS launched the healthcare AI assistant "Dragon Copilot" last month. The AI automatically creates clinical statistics and medical referral letters by inputting patient data. MS acquired the voice AI company 'Nuance Communications' for $16 billion (approximately 23.4 trillion won) in 2021, enabling it to extract information from patients' voices for medical documentation. Dragon Copilot will be released in North America, including the U.S. and Canada, starting next month, and will expand to Europe, including the U.K. and France, afterward.
AWS introduced a palm-based patient identification system called "Amazon One" at NYU Langone Health, one of the largest hospitals in New York, starting last month. AWS explained that the palm scanning technology has an accuracy of 99% with an identification time of less than one second. The company noted that this could significantly reduce the patient registration time.
The industry anticipates a significant increase in demand for AI solutions that can replace medical personnel's work. The World Health Organization (WHO) analyzed that 10.3% of the global population was aged 65 and older last year, and this percentage is expected to double by 2074. The organization also projected a shortage of more than 10 million healthcare workers, mainly in low-income and lower-middle-income countries, by 2030.
Recently, Shinhan Investment Corp. reported that "the U.S. is projected to face a shortage of as many as 86,000 doctors by 2036" and explained that "in South Korea, the number of resident doctors in essential medical fields has decreased by more than 600 each year for the past decade, resulting in a shortage of doctors compared to the average among OECD member countries."
Market research firm Markets and Markets projected that the global AI healthcare market will grow from $15.8 billion (approximately 23.1 trillion won) last year to $181.79 billion (approximately 266.3 trillion won) by 2030.
Professor Choi Byung-ho from Korea University’s Artificial Intelligence Research Institute said, "Medical personnel provide a certain pattern of diagnosis and prescriptions for patients with mild symptoms," adding, "If the AI, having learned this, replaces simple tasks, medical personnel will be able to focus on treatment activities, which will gradually expand the related market."