The role of a therapy radiographer in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) – RadPro 365 Live

Will the critical shortages of therapy radiographers mean that we are about to be replaced by AI, robots and machine learning systems and that will essentially solve the training, retention and employment problems in our profession by stealth? The Society of Radiographers have just announced that the new apprentice programs are now "GO" and where a more vocational training environment in combination with a prospective employer and a degree course will allow employers to "attract and select individuals they believe have the potential to become radiographers". It has also been announced this month that the University of Portsmouth is to close its degree course in radiotherapy and oncology in 2020 for which the timing is particularly ironic and may well impact on recruitment in the South further exacerbating the current problem. I looked at these issues in my January blog and reported on some items in the media relating to this. The College of Radiographers published some of their latest feedback and information on Radiographer Apprenticeships in my February blog and now having read some of the latest books on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on us and especially the workplace, I thought it would be interesting this month to see how this might impact on our profession.