Two new medical AI models, MIRA and AMIE, have been hailed as a 'clinical co-pilot' in hospitals after showing impressive results in patient management. Published in the journal Nature, these studies demonstrate the potential of artificial intelligence in improving the quality of care, reducing administrative burdens, and facilitating more consistent, evidence-based care.
Ahead of the two AI models, Ignacio Miranda Gómez, head of the Breast Imaging Unit at the International Breast Cancer Centre in Barcelona, commented on the significance of these advancements. 'The latest advances in medical AI show that the most advanced systems can now achieve levels of performance comparable to, and even superior to, those of doctors in specific clinical tasks such as diagnosis, test selection, prescribing treatments and patient follow-up.'
The MIRA system has demonstrated its ability to integrate with an electronic health record and carry out clinical actions such as requesting diagnostic tests, prescribing medication, or recommending hospital admissions. While the AMIE system stands out for its ability to conduct complex clinical conversations and manage patients across multiple visits, both systems have shown impressive results in simulated settings, particularly in areas such as adherence to clinical guidelines, the accuracy of recommendations, and medication safety.
However, researchers have emphasised that these technologies are not yet ready for autonomous use in clinical practice. The studies were conducted in controlled environments with simulated patients, so their efficacy and safety still need to be demonstrated in real hospitals and clinics. Current evidence points towards a model of collaboration between healthcare professionals and AI, rather than the replacement of doctors.