SDGs

Series Three: Accelerating the Progress of the UN Sustainable Development Goals Using AI as a Transformative Approach

BY GLORY ADEOYE 13 Sept 2023

Imagine a future where a communal force of creativity takes on major global issues like hunger, poverty, and inequality. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a collection of 17 ambitious goals that serve as a worldwide call to action, were born from this vision in 2015.

The fight against poverty, the struggle for gender equality, the need to access clean water, the provision of high-quality education, and many other essential challenges are all addressed by these aims. The SDGs, which have a deadline of 2030, aim to build a sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous world for all.

Kinfolk is interested in exploring how AI has accelerated the effort and positively impacted the United Nations SDGs. We intend to examine some specific SDGs in different article series. Series Three of this article delves into SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being, uncovering how AI reshapes healthcare to build healthier societies.

AI Impact on SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

AI-powered technologies revolutionize the healthcare industry, offering promising solutions to achieve SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. AI is driving innovation to transform global healthcare outcomes by enhancing disease diagnosis and enabling personalized medicine.

Disease Diagnosis and Healthcare Predictions: AI algorithms analyze vast amounts of medical data, including patient records, lab results, and imaging scans, to assist healthcare professionals in diagnosing diseases accurately and timely.

For instance, AI-powered image recognition systems can detect abnormalities in medical scans, aiding in the early detection of conditions like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders.

Moreover, AI-driven predictive analytics also help forecast disease outbreaks and identify high-risk populations, empowering healthcare organizations to allocate resources effectively and proactively manage public health challenges.

Drug Discovery and Personalized Medicine: AI has promoted the acceleration of drug discovery and the identification of potential drug candidates through machine learning algorithms that can sift through vast databases of molecular structures to identify compounds with the highest potential for therapeutic value.

Additionally, AI-driven precision medicine tailors treatment plans to patients based on their genetic makeup, lifestyle, and other factors. Personalized medicine ensures more targeted and effective therapies, reducing adverse reactions and improving patient outcomes.

Case Studies of AI-Powered Healthcare Projects

Project InnerEye by Microsoft: InnerEye is an AI research project that focuses on improving the accuracy and efficiency of medical image analysis. This AI-powered tool assists radiologists in detecting and delineating tumors, aiding in treatment planning for cancer patients, and enabling healthcare professionals to devote more attention to personalized patient care.

IBM Watson for Oncology: IBM Watson for Oncology is an AI platform that supports oncologists in making evidence-based treatment decisions for cancer patients. This platform provides personalized treatment recommendations aligned with the latest medical insights, and the platform has been deployed in various countries, aiding healthcare providers in delivering cutting-edge cancer care.

Babylon Health: Babylon Health is an AI-driven telemedicine app that offers virtual consultations with doctors, symptom checker services, and personalized health insights. The AI-powered chatbot engages with users to assess their symptoms, providing real-time health advice and recommendations. The platform aims to increase access to healthcare services and empower individuals to take charge of their well-being.

Conclusion

Kinfolk is interested in the excellent health and well-being of its team and founders. Our research concludes that AI’s improvement in disease diagnostics, medicine discovery, and individualized healthcare significantly impacts the healthcare system.

AI appears as a change agent in this story of science and empathy, sparking the transformation of world health. Its imprint is stamped indelibly on the health canvas, from making custom treatment plans to accurately identifying diseases. AI is getting closer to achieving SDG 3 and creating a society where everyone is healthier and happier with each new development.

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