A new wave of artificial intelligence (AI) tools is emerging to help speed scientific discovery, especially in biomedical research. By analyzing massive datasets, these tools could flag genes that shed light on how disease progresses or drugs that may lead to a potential new treatment, but any errors AI makes can carry serious consequences, according to Dajiang Liu, a University Distinguished Professor and director of artificial intelligence and biomedical informatics at Penn State College of Medicine.
In this Q&A, Liu—who also holds appointments in public health sciences and molecular and precision medicine—discussed the promises and risks of this new generation of AI tools and what the next generation of researchers and health care professionals need to know.
What makes biomedical research different from other sectors where AI has been adopted more quickly?
In many commercial settings, an AI error may lead to inconvenience, inefficiency or financial loss. In biomedical research, errors can affect scientific conclusions, drug development decisions or even patient care, making the stakes higher. It requires rigorous study design, careful definition of physical traits or phenotypes, biological interpretation and independent validation.
