Mainul Mondal, the Founder, CEO, and Member of the Board of Directors of Ellipsis Health, believes that the momentous opportunities presented by the advancements in healthcare AI must be rooted in principles that ensure the technology improves outcomes for all individuals, especially in mental health care. The use of AI can help bridge the gap in care capacity in a scalable way, but data must be large in scale and diverse in representation to train equitable and effective algorithms across different populations. While AI may not solve all health disparities, it can help develop technologies that bridge the gap, taking into account diversity and social determinants of health.
The advantage of AI applications in healthcare lies in its ability to operate at scale and improve accuracy, accessibility, and reliability. Models trained on thousands of data points can provide more objective measurements of an individual’s health compared to a human practitioner. By training models on a more diverse range of patients, AI applications can help practitioners make more informed decisions and focus their expertise where needed. For example, Ellipsis Health has developed a combined acoustic and semantic language model to identify, measure, and monitor depression and anxiety using voice, setting a new standard of care in the field.
Healthcare innovators are encouraged to design AI solutions with health equity in mind, ensuring transparency about datasets and methodologies to prevent bias. Steps can be taken to build diverse datasets, challenge assumptions about existing data, be transparent about data handling and research methodologies, and build models that can be easily updated over time. It is crucial for founders and business leaders developing AI-powered tools for healthcare to establish operational procedures that deliver products reflecting the population they serve, while adhering to the principle of “First, do no harm.”
The Forbes Business Council, the top growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders, provides a platform for thought leaders like Mainul Mondal to share insights and best practices for responsible and transparent use of AI in healthcare. As the healthcare industry undergoes a transformation driven by AI technology, it is essential for innovators to prioritize health equity, diversity, and the betterment of the human race as the defining objective of their work. By following ethical guidelines, promoting transparency, and adapting to new standards, AI applications in healthcare have the potential to revolutionize the industry and improve outcomes for all individuals.
