Plenty of warnings have been offered about radiology's impending doom thanks to artificial intelligence (AI). Phil Shaffer, a radiologist at Riverside Radiology and Interventional Associates in Columbus, Ohio, offered a response with an opinion piece published in The Scientist.

Largely responding to a June 25 opinion piece predicting an AI takeover also published in The Scientist, Shaffer argued that many do not understand radiologists do more than identify spots on an x-ray. Even the most sophisticated algorithms lack the ability to inject context into readings—a key trait that helps define what it means to be a radiologist, he argued.

Shaffer also warned against falling for the newest, intoxicating technology that often does not perform as well as marketed. He believes radiologists need to be skeptical of entrepreneurs and work proactively with those creating AI. 

“Radiologists should, and will, guide the deployment of advanced software tools,” wrote Shaffer in opinion piece. “This should not be done by entrepreneurs who have no experience applying new technologies to patient care. We should avoid credulous acceptance of AI for medical imaging and demand extensive proof before unleashing it on the public.”

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