By 2050, the world’s population is expected to increase from today’s 7.6 billion to 9.7 billion, with 2 billion above the age of 60. To address healthcare of a demographics of this magnitude will require huge investments that are beyond the capacity of any government, civil society or private sector.
Extensive global effort as well as a different paradigm of mind-sets, technologies, collaboration models, financing and delivery approaches is needed to ensure that all peoples receive the healthcare they need and deserve. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has a crucial role to play in this new paradigm of healthcare and well-being.
We are starting to benefit from the initial stage of AI-enabled applications such as in the management of epidemics, public health programs, medical records, treatment plan design, online consultations, and precision medicine. At the consumer level, we are enjoying a plethora of the “quantified self” type of applications to help us achieve physical and mental well-being. Looking further ahead to the possibility of a much more advanced AI, some are advocating that AI could be applied to conquer death itself. In the view of these advocates, death is a problem only because a solution has not yet been found, and they see the solution in AI.
Professor Meynert will share her views on some of the recent developments in AI-enabled applications on healthcare and a thought experiment on the concept of immortality.
