AI diagnostic system better than doctors, says Microsoft

Microsoft has revealed details of an artificial intelligence system that performs better than human doctors at complex health diagnoses, creating a "path to medical superintelligence".

- Dan Milmo

Its AI unit, which is led by the British tech pioneer Mustafa Suleyman, has developed a system that imitates a panel of expert physicians tackling "diagnostically complex and intellectually demanding" cases.

Microsoft said that when paired with OpenAI's advanced 03 AI model, its approach "solved" more than eight of 10 case studies specially chosen for the diagnostic challenge. When those case studies were tried on practicing physicians - who had no access to colleagues, textbooks or chatbots - the accuracy rate was two out of 10.

Microsoft said it was also a cheaper option than using human doctors; it was more efficient at ordering tests. Despite highlighting the potential cost savings, Microsoft played down the job implications, saying it believed AI would complement doctors' roles rather than replace them.