Predicting healthcare’s future: ChatGPT and Bard’s 2024 vision
Two AI-based visionaries forecast continued transformation in the healthcare landscape, although the pace of change continues to be the wild card.
As the clock ticks towards 2024, the healthcare landscape finds itself, as does the rest of the world, in a seismic shift. Many experts believe we are either dipping our toes into the fourth industrial revolution or up to our knees in it.
As an editorial team here at HDM, we wanted to seek the industry’s thoughts, musings and predictions of where 2024 might find us in this collective healthcare journey. After all, there is no more exciting journey that we all share than that which is evolving in health and care. And in one way or another, we are all players -- no exceptions.
In this exercise, we felt we were leaving out a stakeholder who we were missing predictions from. Yes, we decided to engage with two cosmic powers seemingly trapped in a tiny living space (a reference to Disney’s Aladdin). We looked to the prognostications of two AI visionaries, ChatGPT and Google’s Bard.
We engaged with them as if they were two futurists, experts that could take a lifetime of experience and knowledge and predict what might happen in 2024 with healthcare delivery. Below is a summary of what came out of the engagement, as ChatGPT and Bard painted their visions for healthcare in 2024 and beyond.
The crossroads of technology and healthcare
ChatGPT and Bard unanimously agree that AI's role in diagnostics and administrative automation will redefine healthcare efficiency. AI's ability to sift through vast patient data and discern patterns will enhance diagnostic accuracy. Bard cites IBM's Watson as an exemplar, showcasing its prowess in oncology diagnostics. ChatGPT, on the other hand, sees this AI integration as a step towards comprehensive healthcare, in which technology aids in early disease detection and treatment optimization.
Telehealth: bridging distances
Telehealth emerges as a focal point in both visions. ChatGPT and Bard foresee telehealth becoming more ingrained in healthcare delivery, especially in providing access to those in remote areas. ChatGPT envisions a future in which telehealth extends beyond mere consultations, integrating seamlessly into routine care, encompassing primary and mental health services. Bard echoes this sentiment, emphasizing telehealth's role in reducing healthcare costs and enhancing convenience.
The personalization of medicine
Personalized medicine stands out to both ChatGPT and Bard. They highlight the shift towards treatments tailored to individual genetic and molecular profiles. This approach, as Bard points out, leverages genetic and molecular information for more targeted and effective treatments, potentially reducing the toxicity associated with conventional treatments. ChatGPT extends this notion, anticipating a significant impact in oncology, where personalized treatments could revolutionize cancer care.
Wearable technologies and real-time monitoring
The rise of advanced wearable devices is another area of consensus. Both ChatGPT and Bard predict wearables will evolve to monitor more intricate health parameters. Bard envisions wearables aiding in early intervention and health risk identification, while ChatGPT projects a future in which these devices monitor complex health indicators like blood sugar levels and heart rhythm, playing a crucial role in patient health management.
Blockchain: The vanguard of data security
Blockchain technology’s role in healthcare data management garners attention from both futurists. Bard emphasizes blockchain's potential to secure and streamline healthcare data management, envisioning a future where patient data is protected with unparalleled security. ChatGPT aligns with this view, but it places greater emphasis on blockchain's role in enhancing the privacy and security of health records, a crucial aspect in a digitally driven healthcare environment.
3D printing: Customized healthcare
3D printing in healthcare is another shared prediction, albeit with differing emphases. Bard spotlights 3D printing for creating custom medical devices and implants, improving patient outcomes through tailored care. ChatGPT, meanwhile, envisions a broader application, including bioprinting tissues and personalized prosthetics, showcasing the technology's potential in creating more personalized treatment options.
Smart hospitals: Technological convergence
ChatGPT envisions smart hospitals as the epicenters of healthcare's digital transformation. These facilities, equipped with IoT devices and AI, are expected to revolutionize patient care and hospital operations, making healthcare more responsive and efficient. This vision complements Bard's emphasis on the adoption of advanced technologies like blockchain and 3D printing, albeit with a broader focus on systemic efficiency.
Convergence of big data and genetic testing
Both experts recognize the potential of big data in revolutionizing healthcare. Bard emphasizes its role in developing new treatments and improving healthcare outcomes, while ChatGPT seems to align with this vision, underscoring the importance of data in enhancing diagnostics and treatment plans. Similarly, both agree on the growing accessibility and importance of genetic testing, foreseeing it as a cornerstone of early and accurate disease diagnosis.
Robot-assisted surgeries: Precision meets innovation
In the realm of surgeries, ChatGPT predicts a rise in robot-assisted procedures. These robots, exemplified by technologies like the da Vinci Surgical System, are forecasted to bring unparalleled precision, reducing recovery times and minimizing human error. This aligns with Bard's overall theme of precision and security in healthcare delivery, although Bard itself does not specifically emphasize robotic surgeries.
Systemic efficiency vs. individualized care
While both experts predict similar trends, their priorities offer a study in contrast. ChatGPT appears to champion a broader, more systemic integration of technology within healthcare systems, focusing on enhancing patient monitoring and overall healthcare efficiency. By contrast, Bard seems more attuned to the precision and individualization of healthcare delivery, with a marked focus on security and personalization.
Digital mental health aims at the unseen epidemic
Unique to ChatGPT's predictions is the growth in digital mental health solutions. In an era increasingly aware of the importance of mental health, ChatGPT foresees digital platforms becoming crucial in providing accessible mental health services, particularly in underserved areas. This perspective highlights a holistic approach to healthcare, acknowledging the significance of mental well being alongside physical health.
Synthesizing the visions, and a reality check
In synthesizing the insights from ChatGPT and Bard, it's clear that while their focal points may differ, their visions are complementary. ChatGPT's focus on systemic efficiency, patient monitoring and mental health accessibility dovetails with Bard's emphasis on precision, personalization and security.
Together, they paint a picture of a future healthcare landscape that is not only technologically advanced but also patient-centric, secure and comprehensive.
But here’s a bit of a reality check. One variable that is not brought out by either of these predictors is the pace at which they will come. And to that end, it’s worth mentioning that the pace at which we will digest the fourth industrial revolution and all these incredible innovations will be paced by the impact of so many governance, policy and bureaucratic decisions that are made over the next months and years. God speed, and have a happy 2024!
Call for Predictions: What do you think? Do you agree with ChatGPT and Bard? What did they miss? What do you see happening in 2024? Feel free to submit your 2024 predictions and, once reviewed and accepted, the HDM team would be happy to publish your authored predictions as part of our Dec/Jan COVERstory. Submit your predictions here.