Automated Healthcare Providers Promoted as Cost-Effective Alternatives to Human Counterparts
At barely a tenth of the cost of human labor, Nvidia introduced AI nurses in collaboration with Hippocratic AI on Monday. These artificially intelligent healthcare professionals, promoted on Hippocratic’s webpage, provide medical guidance through videoconferencing for $9 per hour. Compared to human nurses earning roughly $90 hourly, Hippocratic boasts significant savings despite concerns surrounding quality of care.
Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s Vice President of Healthcare, stated in a press release, “Voice-based digital agents driven by generative AI hold the potential to revolutionize healthcare provision.” She highlighted that success depends on whether the technology can emulate genuine human interaction.
Specializing in various fields ranging from ‘Colonoscopy Screening’ to ‘Breast Cancer Care Manager,’ AI nurses represent an affordable option for hospitals
During a demo hosted by Nvidia, an AI representative named Rachel offered spoken instructions on administering penicillin and assured the patient she would relay the consultation details to their physician. Specializing in various fields ranging from ‘Colonoscopy Screening’ to ‘Breast Cancer Care Manager,’ AI nurses represent an affordable option for hospitals.
Conspicuously promoting lower operating expenses relative to human nurses ($9 versus $90), Hippocratic underscores the economic advantage of employing artificial intelligence. Despite slight discrepancies in patient satisfaction ratings, the company argues that AI nurses surpass humans concerning bedside manners and educational background.
Coinciding with ongoing turbulence in the nursing sector, 2023 witnessed over 32,000 registered nurses striking nationwide, accounting for a quarter of US industrial actions. Persistent staffing issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic prompted Hippocratic’s entrance into the market.
Testing involved thousands of human nurses and hundreds of physicians validating Hippocratic’s AI nurses deployed across forty American healthcare institutions. While acknowledging limitations in diagnostic capabilities, Hippocratic maintains that the generative AI nurses facilitate access to treatment and enhance efficiency.
Echoing the oath taken by medical practitioners, Hippocratic derives inspiration from The Hippocratic Oath – a principle advocating “First, do no harm.” Their mission statement affirms commitment to providing nonharmful care using LLM (Language Learning Model)-driven solutions addressing the imbalance between healthcare supply and demand.
Aside from partnering with Hippocratic AI, Nvidia unveiled cutting-edge AI processors, Blackwell, poised to accelerate machine learning model training. Furthermore, strengthening collaborations alongside tech giants like Google Cloud reinforces Nvidia’s position as a leading innovator in AI technology.
The introduction of AI nurses by Nvidia and Hippocratic AI is a game-changer in the healthcare industry. The cost-effectiveness of these AI nurses, as compared to their human counterparts, is a significant advantage for hospitals looking to reduce operating expenses
While the economic advantage of employing AI nurses is undeniable, we must also consider the potential job displacement this could cause in the nursing sector. With over 32,000 registered nurses striking nationwide in 2023, it’s clear that the sector is already facing challenges. The introduction of AI nurses could exacerbate these issues.
The use of AI in healthcare isn’t new, but the application of AI nurses specializing in various fields is an innovative approach. It’s impressive to see how far we’ve come in terms of technology, but we must also consider the ethical implications. The Hippocratic Oath advocates for “First, do no harm,” but can we ensure that AI will always adhere to this principle?
While AI nurses may be more cost-effective, there are concerns about the quality of care they can provide. Human nurses have years of training and experience, which allows them to react to unexpected situations and provide personalized care. Can an AI nurse, despite its programming, truly match this level of care?