Health agencies and law enforcement are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) in their efforts to combat widespread opioid addiction, according to a report.
Data-driven monitoring systems such as NarxCare offer numerical ratings of patients' medication history that give doctors a rudimentary idea of their risks, but professionals are split on their effectiveness, according to a report from MarketPlace.
"We need to see what’s going on to make sure we’re not doing more harm than good," health economist Jason Gibbons told the outlet.
ASK A DOC: 25 BURNING QUESTIONS ABOUT AI AND HEALTH CARE ANSWERED BY AN EXPERT
He added, "We’re concerned that it’s not working as intended, and it’s harming patients."
Algorithmic evaluations of individual patients are being produced by AI models to help professionals determine their addiction risks.
The scores are drawn from multiple data points, including number of prescriptions, dosage information and the doctors who have prescribed for the patient previously. The ratings are not intended to make the final decision on patients' care and tech firms urge doctors to use their own judgment alongside the technology.
As the artificial intelligence train barrels on with no signs of slowing down — some studies have even predicted that AI will grow by more than 37% per year between now and 2030 — the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an advisory calling for "safe and ethical AI for health."
The agency recommended caution when using "AI-generated large language model tools (LLMs) to protect and promote human well-being, human safety and autonomy, and preserve public health."
While WHO acknowledges "significant excitement" about the potential to use these chatbots and algorithms for health-related needs, the organization underscores the need to weigh the risks carefully.
"This includes widespread adherence to key values of transparency, inclusion, public engagement, expert supervision and rigorous evaluation," it said.
Fox News Digital's Melissa Rudy contributed to this report.
