AI is already changing the ways we fight cancer

AI’s ability to parse through dense troves of data and seek out patterns may make it well-suited to look for irregularities in images of organs and tissue and spot cancerous cells before they metastasize. A study published today in the journal Nature by researchers at Columbia University described a new medical AI model that they say can accurately predict the activity of genes at the cellular level. In theory, this level of granularity could open up new paths for researchers to understand the gene mutations that cause cancers to occur in the first place. Today, doctors are already using AI to help spot tumors and expedite diagnoses. Scientists and pharmaceutics companies are similarly using the tech in varying degrees to assist with the creation of new cancer-fighting therapeutics. And while AI almost certainly won’t replace trained oncologists anytime soon, all signs are pointing toward a near future where these models play an increasingly present role in combating cancer, from the earliest moments to late-stage treatment.