Augmented Intelligence and Nursing

Abstract

With each new year, numerous reports, columns, and blogs are written to project the upcoming technologies and trends in health care. Several 2017 technology trends point to the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care. Gartner’s Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2017 (Cearley, Walker, & Burke, 2016) highlight three top trends: AI and advanced machine learning, intelligent apps, and intelligence things. Let’s look at each. First, certain technologies and specific techniques, such as deep learning, neural networks, and natural language processing, are encompassed within the AI and machine-learning concept. These techniques create software programs that are more than just rule-based systems. Rather, these systems can “understand, learn, predict, adapt and appear intelligent” (Cearley et al., 2016). Their ability to learn is key to their functionality. For example, a machine-learning system can analyze numerous electronic health records (EHRs) and recommend potential effective treatments. As more datasets are added, the system can learn and adapt the recommendations, for example, adding genomic data to the EHR database. Intelligent apps, the second trend, refer to virtual personal assistants (VPAs). VPAs help users with everyday tasks, for example, sorting email or answering simple questions (just as SiriTM and CortanaTM do on our smartphones). VPAs will become more available in health care in the coming year. Intelligent things, the third trend, break down…