Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are becoming increasingly prevalent in our lives and there has been both enthusiasm and caution for using AI in healthcare. A recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported on a trial examining whether ChatGPT could improve the diagnostic abilities of doctors and showed that ChatGPT on its own performed better than physicians. This month’s Editors’ Choice looks at the integration of AI into otolaryngology, giving examples of where it might assist with and enhance practice, as well as the ethics and privacy issues that we need to be aware of. Many thanks as always to our reviewers for all their hard work and contributions.
Hannah and Nazia
Otolaryngology has always been a field driven by technological advancement, and integration of AI into otolaryngology sounds very exciting and promising. This article highlights that AI can enhance various aspects of patient care, from diagnostics to treatment planning. It can assist in image analysis and detect early signs of cancer. It can assist in robotic surgery and in more precision work. It has the potential to create simulation scenarios in complex cases and pre-empt any potential complications that could occur during surgery, as well as providing effective appropriate solutions to manage them. In terms of patient care, AI via powered chatbots can also assist in delivering personalised health advice and reduce some of the administrative burden. I feel this is an exciting opportunity for all of us to further our research and development in this field and use the AI technology to improve patient care. However, the senior author does caution that the integration of AI in otolaryngology is not without challenges. Ethical considerations, data privacy concerns, and the need for robust regulatory frameworks are critical issues that must be addressed.
Merging Human and Artificial Intelligence to Improve Otolaryngology Care.
Chandrasekhar SS.
OTOLARYNGOL CLIN NORTH AM
2024;57(5):xiii–xv.
