Researchers create AI to detect overlooked cancer tumors

A team of researchers from the University of Central Florida have developed an artificial intelligence system to detect cancerous tumors normally missed by radiologists, the university stated in a blog post. The team has trained a computer to identify minute particles of lung cancer in CT scans, which are otherwise difficult for radiologists to pinpoint. The researchers claim that the system is about 95% accurate at identifying cancer versus 65% by humans, the blog added. The AI uses an algorithm similar to facial-recognition software that scans thousands of faces to identify and match a particular pattern. "We used the brain as a model to create our system. You know how connections between neurons in the brain strengthen during development and learn? We used that blueprint, if you will, to help our system understand how to look for patterns in the CT scans and teach itself how to find these tiny tumors," said Rodney LaLonde, a doctoral candidate, in the blog post.