I agree that AI will do amazing things but I fear that it will not make healthcare equal around the world. Even if they cure malaria or other deadly diseases in developing countries we have capacity and funding issues. As an ex-nurse I know how unwilling the medical profession, politicians and the public are to address the issue of “just because we can, should we?” With a limited health budget should we spend half a million on drugs for one family with a rare disorder, or should we spend it on cataract surgery for hundreds of patients? The same questions will arise with AI.
I had to mull over this and try not to have my mind leach to the dark side. We spent a lot of time wanting to know what’s wrong and how to stop it. We writhe and spin ourselves dizzy trying to get out of destructive cycles. Then here it is. Wasn’t the job, the girlfriend, the shitty diet, it was something else. What a gift of freedom to know how we can continue living a burden-less life. It’s amazing and almost infuriating to think a solution could be so easy.
Elle, i just came across The Elysian. We have a very different approach to illness and the many problems in the world, but I applaud enthusiastically your willingness to take the unconventional approach and get people thinking. I look forward to reading more.
Sep 1, 2023·edited Sep 1, 2023Liked by Elle Griffin
I have a story cueing up with AI in medicine. But it's for next year, after I finish what I'm currently writing. In any case, I think that using AI for good should be explored more. This is a tool that was built to serve.
I agree that AI will do amazing things but I fear that it will not make healthcare equal around the world. Even if they cure malaria or other deadly diseases in developing countries we have capacity and funding issues. As an ex-nurse I know how unwilling the medical profession, politicians and the public are to address the issue of “just because we can, should we?” With a limited health budget should we spend half a million on drugs for one family with a rare disorder, or should we spend it on cataract surgery for hundreds of patients? The same questions will arise with AI.
I had to mull over this and try not to have my mind leach to the dark side. We spent a lot of time wanting to know what’s wrong and how to stop it. We writhe and spin ourselves dizzy trying to get out of destructive cycles. Then here it is. Wasn’t the job, the girlfriend, the shitty diet, it was something else. What a gift of freedom to know how we can continue living a burden-less life. It’s amazing and almost infuriating to think a solution could be so easy.
Elle, i just came across The Elysian. We have a very different approach to illness and the many problems in the world, but I applaud enthusiastically your willingness to take the unconventional approach and get people thinking. I look forward to reading more.
Love this -- and wondering if the "future university lecture" format was inspired by A Handmaid's Tale? 😊 Just in case you haven't seen this yet:
https://singularityhub.com/2023/08/22/ai-can-now-design-proteins-that-behave-like-biological-transistors/
I have a story cueing up with AI in medicine. But it's for next year, after I finish what I'm currently writing. In any case, I think that using AI for good should be explored more. This is a tool that was built to serve.