Peking University, May 15, 2019: In April 26, The BMJ published online an opinion article by President Zhan Qimin of Peking University Health Science Center on the prospect of artificial intelligence (AI) in the medical field. The article, titled “Can AI fulfil its medical promise?” (Full text), was co-authored by Dr. Zhang Luxia and Dr. Kong Guilan of PKU National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine as well as Dr. Wang Liwei of PKU School of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science. 

The article identified scenarios where medical AI could potential find its way into application, but it also noted with caution that the effectiveness and safety of AI must be carefully assessed, and that the performance of predictive AI algorithms needs to be evaluated in epidemiological or medical research. In conclusion, the article pointed to health and medicine as the “promised land” of AI, and stated that to maximize the benefits of AI, “medical doctors, researchers, and AI scientists should work closely together … [using] robust methodology, and following ethical norms and no harm principles … [to] apply, evaluate, and improve AI technology in medical practice.”