Sure, artificial intelligence might end up being the downfall of humanity as we know it — that is, if Elon Musk’s fears come to fruition — but for the time being it’s actually quite useful. A new research effort by an international team of scientists reveals that machine-learning algorithms can be a powerful tool for medicine. The group, which published its work in the journal Nature, managed to create and train an AI to successfully identify different types of brain tumors with impressive accuracy.
In order to identify between different types of brain cancer, the team needed some criteria the computer could use to differentiate between them. With over 100 types of brain tumors already in the medical record, the process of identification can be tricky even for human doctors. The researchers used a DNA process called methylation as a sort of biological fingerprint and taught the AI to tell the difference between which of those fingerprints match specific cancer types.
Like all machine-learning algorithms, the AI needed a base of knowledge from which to draw comparisons. The team fed the computer the data of 2,800 cancer patients as a starting point, allowing it to identify an impress 91 different types of tumors. Then, they asked the computer to identify the type of tumor in over 1,000 known samples and found that the AI’s judgement didn’t match up with the human diagnosis in a number of cases.
As it turns out, the computer wasn’t incorrect in its identification; human doctors had misdiagnosed roughly 12 percent of the previously studied samples and the AI was correct.

Image Credit: Shutterstock
News This Week
Superbugs Are Losing to Science, Light, and a Little Spice
Texas A&M researchers have found that curcumin, when activated by light, can weaken antibiotic-resistant bacteria, restoring the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics. Curcumin: A Surprising Ally Against Superbugs In 2017, a woman admitted to a [...]
New Research Shatters the Perfect Pitch Myth
For decades, people believed absolute pitch was an exclusive ability granted only to those with the right genetics or early music training. But new research from the University of Surrey proves otherwise. It’s been [...]
Why Some Drinkers Suffer Devastating Liver Damage While Others Don’t
A study from Keck Medicine of USC found that heavy drinkers with diabetes, high blood pressure, or a large waistline are up to 2.4 times more likely to develop advanced liver disease. These conditions may amplify [...]
“Good” Cholesterol Could Be Bad for Your Eyes – New Study Raises Concerns
‘Good’ cholesterol may be linked to an increased risk of glaucoma in individuals over 55, while, paradoxically, ‘bad’ cholesterol may be associated with a lower risk. These findings challenge conventional beliefs about factors that [...]
Reawakening Dormant Nerve Cells: Groundbreaking Neurotechnology Restores Motor Function
A new electrical stimulation therapy for spinal muscle atrophy (SMA) has shown promise in reactivating motor neurons and improving movement. In a pilot clinical trial, three patients who received spinal cord stimulation for one [...]
AI’s Energy Crisis Solved? A Revolutionary Magnetic Chip Could Change Everything
AI is evolving at an incredible pace, but its growing energy demands pose a major challenge. Enter spintronic devices—new technology that mimics the brain’s efficiency by integrating memory and processing. Scientists in Japan have [...]
Nanotechnology for oil spill response and cleanup in coastal regions
(Nanowerk News) Cleaning up after a major oil spill is a long, expensive process, and the damage to a coastal region’s ecosystem can be significant. This is especially true for the world’s Arctic region, [...]
The Role of Nanotechnology in Space Exploration
Nanotechnology, which involves working with materials at the atomic or molecular level, is becoming increasingly important in space exploration. By improving strength, thermal stability, electrical conductivity, and radiation resistance, nanotechnology is helping create lighter, more [...]
Leave A Comment