*We hear constantly, that the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is upon us. It can often seem all around us: Siri, Alexa, Google Home, Alpha Go. And yes there’s a lot of hyperbole, noise, in the air. A close observer, however, is compelled to acknowledge that there is also a clear signal in the air and that signal is rapidly growing in intensity.
Let’s quickly cover some basics. There’s Machine Learning (ML) and then there’s Artificial Intelligence (AI). ML is often referred to as supervised learning, which requires significant human involvement. More of the former exist in the world today, than the latter. A ML agent, or algorithm, has to be fed hordes of data and not in any mish-mash way. It then essentially scours through the mountains in search of insightful patterns, and needles in the haystack. Cynics are quick to point out that ML doesn’t have the wit of a toddler, in figuring out nuances and unspoken rules.
The quest is not only for magnificent data crunchers, but also for ‘reasoners’ who can form knowledge synapses on their own. Who, with less data, can begin to see and understand more on their own. (The Latin root ‘intelligere’ does means to understand.) The ‘on their own’ part is serious business and unveils a state of existence never before known; only imagined.
Along The Way
Though we are not ‘there’, one would be wise to understand that where we are can itself be breathtaking. If we fully grasp our now, we realize the very fabric of society is being rewoven. Consider this example.
There is a reservoir of information, experience, processes that give foundation to the practice of medicine. Though it is a dynamic body of knowledge, it shifts slowly as it is moved from one generation of humans to the next. This fact defines both it’s strengths and limitations.
What if what is known by 105,000 physicians, who had treated hundreds of millions of patients, was to be distilled; that is copied from human gray matter into digital matter? Would less be known? Would the veracity of it be somehow diminished? The answers are no and
- Moving further: would the helpfulness of the knowledge be as dependable and effective? Via digital matter, would it be more readily (and cost effectively) accessible? The answers are yes and yes.
The above scenario does indeed exists, as Dr. AI; created by Silicon Valley based HealthTap. The implications are clear, aren’t they? Humans are no longer the sole holders of knowledge. As the saying goes: “if you didn’t know, now you know.”
Many Minds, Along With Digital Minds, Are Better
It’s been a long held human notion, that many minds are better than one. Look at where that has actually brought us. 105,000 physician-minds are surely better than one. Imagine if, and when, that number doubles or triples. And yes, add in the eventual digital mind (AI) into the mix and we’ll be squarely within a new model of knowing and leveraging what is known.
Envision the above model being duplicated and pointed toward addressing cancer and initially more specifically cancer among African Americans.
Disease in general, and cancer in particular, can often be a ‘head in the sand’ phenomenon. Something that is more easily put to the back of the mind, or sidestepped with wishful thinking. For example, about not being one of the 198 persons each and every hour who are diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. alone.
One thing that is known though, is that individuals will-in the privacy of their own home or phone-seek “Dr. Google”. More than 10 billion symptom related searches are conducted each year via Google. So significant is this matter, that it has helped birth a new discipline (Information Epidemiology or Infodemiology). In a digital age, people will seek health insight through a keyboard, and increasingly an actual verbal query (think Alexa, Google Home, Siri). This is a multi-faceted public health opportunity. On one hand, what people are thinking, feeling and wanting to know in reference to cancer can be examined. On the other hand, qualitative, peer-reviewed, experience driven information can be made available to a searching public.
We Need You, Yes You
If you’re reading this 1,000 Word segment, most likely you’re a medical professional in the field of oncology, a cancer researcher or cancer public advocate. You can help us in our quest to build an Oncology Virtual Expert Resource (OVER) for the African American community. Every day, in the midst of what you do, you hear, see and learn about how cancer affects humans and their response to the same. That is knowledge that can help drive better public awareness, address understandable fears of alienation and being overwhelmed and help us bridge persons and families to solid, trustworthy information on cancer.
Building OVER isn’t the work of a small circle. It’s a call for many minds, bolstered by best of breed knowledge-technology. Think Wikipedia meets AI. We need mind-hands that will help us aggregate the following (with proper citations and/or attribution):
- the most frequently asked questions raised by those with cancer, or family members and friends with loved ones fighting cancer
- the most essential ‘should know’ facts / insights for African Am’s facing/fighting cancer
- insight nuggets from the field (i.e., research, treatment, therapies, public policy)
- support strategies for friends, families, co-workers, neighbors, service providers
This list is not definitive. We’re open to suggestions. What does the most robust, intelligent knowledge-base on African Americans and cancer look like? Your thoughts?
To get started, this is what we need you to know and to do:
<> We use What’s App as our primary communication channel. If you’re already on it, add 312-982-9779 (1000 Words) to your phone’s contact base and ping us w/ What’s App (Identify yourself, your profession and who referred you to this project.)
<> If you’re not on What’s App, please download / install it and follow the above instructions.
We look forward to your spirited involvement.
Respond to Rafiki Cai: [email protected]
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