As deep learning in medical imaging continues to advance, two leading experts argue in a March 27 editorial in the Harvard Business Review that it will only result in positive impacts on the field—rather than replace imaging professionals with computers. 

Medical students may avoid specializing in radiology due to fear or artificial intelligence (AI). But jobs in medical imaging will only be enhanced by AI, according to Thomas Davenport, PhD, professor in management and information technology at Babson College, and Keith Dreyer, DO, PhD, vice chairman of radiology and chief data science officer at Massachusetts General Hospital/Partners Healthcare and a professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School.  

In their editorial, the two argued radiologists will not disappear from the labor force because they can multitask. Also, clinical processes for employing AI-based image work are a long way from being ready for daily use.  

"It should be apparent, then, that the next time you get a mammogram or an MRI, your images are unlikely to be viewed only by an AI algorithm," the authors wrote. "Radiologists, like the lawyers, financial planners, accountants and other professionals who are seeing some job tasks be performed by smart machines, will find changes to, rather than replacement of, their current jobs. Because of this, they will need to adopt new skills and work processes."  

Read the editorial at the link below: