Artificial intelligence – scary robots, or the future of healthcare?

When artificial intelligence is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is usually a domineering computer program bent on world tyranny – like Joshua from the 1980s’ cult classic WarGames. The reality of AI is both less exciting and more relevant to everyday life – especially in health. There are already so called health bots that can guide patients through their symptoms to reach a probable diagnosis. AI may also make inroads into pharmacy, providing an easy outlet for patients to ask embarrassing questions or to track the spread of antimicrobial resistance with inhuman precision. Pharmacy Today acting editor Jonathan Chilton-Towle interviews Simon Kos, Microsoft’s chief medical officer of worldwide health, about the potential of AI in health