After an introduction of the topic by the dean of FBMS, Maurits van Tulder, and the portfolio holder for impact & valorisation, Ilja Cornelisz, there was a panel discussion on the potential benefits and risks of AI in healthcare. The panel was led by Barbara Braams (Clinical, Neuro-, and Developmental Psychology). The panellists were: Theo Bakker (Clinical Developmental Psychology), Lianne Bakkum (Developmental Pedagogy and Educational Sciences), Sina David (Biomechanics), Erik van Zwol (AmsterdamAI), and Dirk Pelt (Biological Psychology).
When it came to the opportunities AI in healthcare has to offer, panellists highlighted for example AI tools for people with disabilities, including apps to simplify reading for those with intellectual disabilities and programmes translating movies into voice for the visually impaired. AI could also save healthcare professionals time on administrative tasks and help researchers make health-related predictions.
The panellists also noted risks, for example around transparency and data security. They pointed out that AI is largely controlled by big tech companies, making it unclear what data is used and how. Concerns were raised about the safety of sensitive medical information and the need for users to evaluate AI outcomes effectively. The discussion ended with a shared hope that AI will make life easier for everyone, while emphasizing the importance of teaching people to use AI alongside their natural intelligence.
After the central part of the event, participants split up into groups for more in-depth round table discussions led by the panellists. These tables covered different themes, for example Artificial Intelligence in relation to education, research, healthcare, and inclusivity. The discussions varied from accessibility to AI to adapting to the possibilities of AI, and from concerns regarding privacy to possibilities to make processes more efficient. Overall, this event was a starting point for much more broader discussions we would like to continue both within our faculty and with partners in the field.
Did you attend this meeting, and do you want to know what was discussed at the round tables you couldn’t attend? Or did you miss this meeting but are you interested in what was discussed when it comes to AI in research and healthcare? A longer report detailing the topics that were discussed will be available soon. Please reach out to the Research and Policy Support (REPS) Team to receive the report.