Dr. Cornelius James, a clinical assistant professor at Michigan Medicine, is challenging common misconceptions about artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. In his paper, “Preparing Clinicians for a Clinical World Influenced by Artificial Intelligence,” Dr. James argues for the crucial role of AI in enhancing medical practices and improving patient care. He stresses the importance of educating clinicians on AI's benefits, highlighting its potential to assist rather than hinder medical processes.

In Detroit, researchers like Dr. Phillip Levy of Wayne State University are developing AI models to predict health risks, such as heart disease and cancer. Meanwhile, Dongxiao Zhu is working on machine learning applications for diagnosing diseases, and Douglas Zytko is exploring AI's use in sensitive areas like online dating and prevention of sexual violence.

This collective research underscores AI's diverse applications in medicine, from analyzing complex data to enhancing human-computer interactions. Dr. James envisions a future where AI acts as an augmentative tool, seamlessly integrated into healthcare to support clinical decisions and foster a deeper human-technology partnership.

Despite ongoing skepticism, the gradual integration of AI into clinical settings promises a revolutionary shift in healthcare, emphasizing predictive, personalized, and efficient medical practices. The journey of AI from concept to clinical reality reflects the evolving landscape of medicine, signaling a future where technology and healthcare converge to improve patient outcomes.

On Feb. 5, 2021, Wayne AI researchers met with local stakeholders to brainstorm the ideas of bringing the new social technology to enhance the mobility and ensure equity of the low-wage workers. COVID-19 disproportionately affects the low-wage workers whose spatiotemporal mobility pattens, e.g., between housing and job, have dramatically changed. These workers typically have to spend excessive amount of time in transit from housing to work, services and amenities, just to name a few. How to leverage the existing public transit to give residents an on-demand, fast and affordable option of connecting to their job locations, allowing them to have faster and reliable access to work, services and amenities that are otherwise not so easily accessible in reasonable travel periods. Developing innovative social technology that are fully assessable and trustworthy to mitigate the underlying the spatiotemporal mismatches has been recognized as a promising and cost-effective solution.

Dongxiao Zhu, AI researcher from Wayne State University, made a presentation describing the vision, goals and expected outcomes of the project. Through the discussion with our civic partners Stacey Matlen from City of Detroit Mobility Innovation Office, Jessica Robison from Michigan Institute of Mobility, and Ray Smith from Mobility Inclusion, the team has identified several strategic priorities. “One of more salient challenges of a new enabling technology is to enhance assessment and build trust with the community,” says Matlen, Senior Mobility Strategist, Office of Mobility Innovation, City of Detroit. “Developing social technology and multi-channel promotion strategies via smart device, text message and call center to reach unreachable is the key,” says Ray Smith, Director of Community Relations & Government Affairs, Mobility Inclusion. “Low-wage workers often have to transit between suburban regions for their jobs, emphasizing a role of the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan,” says Jessica Robison, Co-Founder and Board Chair of Michigan Mobility Institute. Researchers Tierra Bills, Marco Brocanelli, Daniel Grosu, and Weisong Shi from Wayne State University College of Engineering participated into the discussion. The team will meet biweekly to report progress, exchange ideas and identify new direction in developing social technology for social good.