In the not-so-distant future, artificial intelligence may help detect heart attacks and strokes before they happen.  AI-enabled robots or virtual humans that are digitally visualized may constantly keep track of a patient’s day-to-day vital signs and biometrics data. Those same AI-enabled robots will likely replace human mannequins for training next generation doctors and nurses.

In addition, AI-enabled robots, mechanical arms and drones may help in transforming future hospitals, especially in remote and rural areas. Local hospitals in rural areas could provide emergency surgery using these robots, supervised by remote surgeons and specialists.

And when a surgeon has to make crucial decisions or actions, a robotic or virtual assistant may help to provide analysis of possible outcomes and risks based on observing the specific situation and comparing it with similar cases around the world.

All that is according to Professor Dian Tjondronegoro, of Australia’s Southern Cross University, who is the leader of his university’s newly launched Digital Enterprise Lab that’s designed to be a hub for research and experimentation with digital technology-driven innovations.

To put it succinctly, Prof. Tjondronegoro says AI is already transforming the future of healthcare. 

For example, he points to a future in which 3D holographic scenarios will allow doctors to touch and interact while also using augmented information tools to help diagnose patients.

“Imagine in the future if healthcare professionals were able to look at a graphical summary of patients’ physiological data and medical images being mapped and overlaid on top of the actual body parts using sensor and monitoring technology,” he said.

At the same time, Tjondronegoro says maintaining patient wellness is the real prize for AI.

“The real future potential of AI will be to keep us healthy and well — not just monitor us when we are sick, particularly when coupled to genetic specific biology and pharmaceutical or robotic interventions,” he explained.

Virtual doctors could help patients via their smartwatches, he suggested, with their advice verified by a human doctor, alerting people to potential emergencies before they happen, saving the health system millions.

In short, he said, “Doctors make almost all of their decisions based on data, whether it’s patient history or other similar cases, so using intelligent machines that can summarize big data will assist decision-making, empowering them to perform even better.”