The Economist Magazine (March 21, 2024): The latest issue features
The AI doctor will see you…eventually
Artificial intelligence holds huge promise in health care. But it also faces massive barriers
Better diagnoses. Personalised support for patients. Faster drug discovery. Greater efficiency. Artificial intelligence (ai) is generating excitement and hyperbole everywhere, but in the field of health care it has the potential to be transformational. In Europe analysts predict that deploying ai could save hundreds of thousands of lives each year; in America, they say, it could also save money, shaving $200bn-360bn from overall annual medical spending, now $4.5trn a year (or 17% of gdp). From smart stethoscopes and robot surgeons to the analysis of large data sets or the ability to chat to a medical ai with a human face, opportunities abound.
The triple shock facing Europe’s economy
After the energy crisis, Europe faces surging Chinese imports and the threat of Trump tariffs
Russia is gearing up for a big new push along a long front line
Ukraine must prepare
Antarctica needs a lot more attention
Melting ice sheets do more than raise sea levels