How Artificial Intelligence Could Help Hospitals Save Lives

In 2016, venture capitalists invested $5 billion in startups involving artificial intelligence, representing a 40 percent increase from 2012. With hopes of securing a foothold in what promises to be a multi-billion dollar industry, some of the most influential companies in the world--including IBM, Apple, and Google--are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into their AI research-and-development labs. Health care in particular has been a favourite target for these investments. Google's research website states that "machine learning has dozens of possible application areas, but healthcare stands out as a remarkable opportunity to benefit people." As with any burgeoning industry, there have been gaffes along the way.