They represent blood, and they're color-coded based on speed: turquoise and green for the fastest flow, yellow and red for the slowest. This real-time video, which can be rotated and viewed from any angle, allows doctors to spot problems like a leaky heart valve or a failing surgical repair with unprecedented speed. And artificial intelligence (AI) imaging technology made it possible. "It's quite simple, it's like a video game," said Dr. Albert Hsiao, an associate professor of radiology at the University of California, San Diego, who developed the technology while a medical resident at Stanford University. There's a lot going on behind the scenes to support this simplicity.

The report notes that more data can be generated than physicians can analyze and that AI can make use of techniques to help with interpretation of the data. For example, AI can identify matching images for X-rays for radiologists, saving time. AI can be used to improve searching tasks and the documentation process, both of which may be reasons for physician burnout. It is used in one hospital for deciding whether patients with liver cancer need chemotherapy or surgery. In addition, AI-based scheduling programs are being used, with benefit in places with a large number of physicians and ancillary staff.