A new study has investigated an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that uses face photographs to predict cancer survival. The research, published in Lancet Digital Health, found a statistical link between facial appearance and survival in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.
The study's findings were validated in an independent group of nearly 5,000 cancer patients in the Netherlands. In a US test group, the tool was able to separate patients by risk, with over half of those given the highest survival-risk scores dying within three months.
However, experts note that predicting an outcome is not the same as explaining it. The AI estimates age from facial appearance rather than directly measuring any underlying biological ageing process. The tool is considered a promising proof of concept but is not yet ready for clinical use, requiring further testing against doctors' judgements and across different patient groups and hospitals.