Health execs not ready for societal, liability issues from AI

The vast majority of healthcare organizations lack the capabilities needed to ensure that their artificial intelligence systems act accurately, responsibly and transparently, finds a new survey by consulting and professional services firm Accenture. AI has the potential to be a transformative technology in healthcare. In the Accenture survey, 80 percent of health executives agree that within the next two years, AI will work next to humans in their organization, as a coworker, collaborator and trusted advisor. However, 81 percent of health executives say their organizations are not prepared to face the societal and liability issues that will require them to explain their AI-based actions and decisions, should issues arise, according to Accenture's Digital Health Technology Vision 2018 report. With the increasing role that AI will play in healthcare decision-making, organizations need to carefully consider the responsibility and liability of the actions their systems take on their behalf, contends Accenture.