After news of a cancer survivor crediting OpenAI’s ChatGPT for the success broke out, xAI’s Elon Musk couldn’t withhold sharing his two cents on the topic. Musk, who has previously warned about the rapid advancements in AI, is now advocating for the technology, claiming that it will get better at most jobs, including his.
Musk, who shed light on the future of artificial intelligence in a response to the original post, said that “AI is already better than most doctors. That’s the honest truth. And it will become far better. Same for all jobs tbh, including mine.” The response came to a post that talked about how a cancer survivor relied on ChatGPT to “help her advocate for herself and fight for her cancer and be able to challenge the doctor’s opinions, etc to make a better decision.”
AI taking over doctors?
This statement is sparking a critical debate about the future of the medical profession, as doctors face increasing pressure from ‘digitally savvy’ patients. Patients are using AI-powered tools, such as ChatGPT, to gain detailed medical insights and even question their doctors’ opinions.
This shift in the doctor-patient dynamic is putting a spotlight on the need for physicians to adapt.
According to a practicing physician on TikTok, Dr. Park, who goes by @drpark524, his patients are now arriving with highly granular, nuanced questions, a result of their research with AI chatbots. Dr. Park shared an example of a patient who knew the precise incidence rate of retinal detachment in the United States, putting the doctor “in the hot seat” and feeling that his competence was being tested.
“I am truly feeling that our days are numbered because of AI,” says the doctor in the video. “That is because, at least my patients, are coming in with very, very difficult questions. They’re using these AI chatbots to get a lot of base information that they would get from their doctor,” he added.
Google DeepMind CEO thinks otherwise
However, industry leaders have a different take on the matter. Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis offers a nuanced view, noting that while AI may take over diagnostic tasks, professions requiring empathy and human connection, such as nursing, will remain fundamentally human. Hassabis said that the future of human-AI collaboration will see AI handle data-heavy tasks, freeing up humans to focus on creativity, emotional intelligence, and leadership.