Jun 2, 2026 – 5.00amLike many professionals, Melbourne-based paediatric neurologist Dr Emma Macdonald-Laurs counts herself among the sceptics when it comes to the overall societal benefits of artificial intelligence – but she has found a positive use for increasingly smart algorithms, while leading a team of medical specialists to create a diagnostic tool that could seriously reduce the harmful effects of epilepsy in children.Her team of neuroscientists at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute came out on top of a competitive field in the Research and education category of the Financial Review AI Awards, with work creating the AI Epilepsy Detective, a tool capable of spotting what some of medicine’s finest human eyes cannot.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Paul SmithTechnology editorPaul Smith edits the technology coverage and has been a leading writer on the sector for 20 years. He covers big tech, artificial intelligence, business use of tech, the fast-growing Australian tech industry and start-ups, and national innovation policy from our Sydney newsroom. Send tips to @sayssmithy.99 on encrypted messaging platform Signal.Fetching latest articles