AI is going to change all our lives
UC professor explains how AI is becoming ubiquitous in health care
The Columbus Dispatch turned to a University of Cincinnati expert in health communication and technology to explain how artificial intelligence is becoming ingrained in every aspect of our lives.
UC College of Arts and Sciences Assistant Professor Kelly Merrill Jr. told the Columbus Dispatch that AI is becoming ubiquitous in medical settings.
Kelly Merrill Jr. Photo/Connor Boyle/UC Marketing + Brand
In some cases, patients are turning to AI for medical answers and treatment, particularly for mental health care. But according to the Dispatch, virtually everybody in the United States interacts with AI for some aspect of their lives even if they are not aware of it.
The newspaper examined how industry, education, health care and government are embracing AI.
Some health officials are excited about the ways AI can improve disease diagnoses. And businesses are turning to AI to improve efficiency across industries.
When it comes to personal health care, Merrill said some people might feel more comfortable engaging with an AI agent than a real therapist because of the stigma attached to mental health and the high costs of health care.
But Merrill warned that AI's built-in agreeableness makes it a poor substitute for a real therapist. He said AI typically can confirm the user's own biases and create a false sense of validation.
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