Exploring the Future of AI in Respiratory Medicine at ERS Congress 2024

The upcoming European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress 2024, scheduled to take place September 7 to 11, 2024, in Vienna, Austria, is poised to be one of the most innovative and forward-thinking gatherings in the field of respiratory medicine. This year’s meeting is set to focus on the rapidly developing area of artificial intelligence (AI) within respiratory medicine and science.

With AI's transformative potential becoming increasingly evident across various sectors, speakers at the ERS Congress 2024 will explore how AI can enhance patient care, drive research, and shape the future of respiratory health.

The Future of AI in Respiratory Medicine

ERS Congress 2024 will take place in Vienna, Austria | Image credit: SASITHORN – stock.adobe.com

The theme of the ERS Congress 2024, "Humans and Machines: Getting the Balance Right," reflects the growing importance of AI in health care. AI's integration into respiratory medicine promises to revolutionize the field by enabling more personalized and efficient care, enhancing diagnostic accuracy, and streamlining treatment processes.

However, as highlighted by ERS Congress cochairs Gabor Kovacs, MD, and Judith Löffler-Ragg, MD, the rapid development of AI also presents challenges that need to be carefully navigated.

“We really felt that focusing in on developments in AI for our field was particularly timely,” said Kovacs. “The rate of progress and development in this area is both exciting and daunting and this idea of finding ‘balance’ is something which is certainly a hot topic, not just in medicine, but across all sectors. This theme, in my opinion, is one of the most cross-cutting in recent years – it’s of interest to all disciplines and across specialist areas.”

Löffler-Ragg echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a critical perspective on AI advancements.

“It is extremely important that we view developments in technology, and specifically AI, with an open mind but also a critical eye,” she noted. “The questions that are important to me when I hear of AI technology are: how can this concept make us better, how can it improve the patient experience, and what, if anything, is the risk? Our vision is to advance personalized medicine through the responsible use of AI, continuously improving respiratory medicine.”

Attendees are already expressing excitement and anticipation for the opening session of the ERS Congress 2024, which will feature a keynote presentation by Bertalan Mesko, PhD, director of The Medical Futurist Institute, who is also known as “The Medical Futurist.” Mesko is renowned for his expertise in analyzing the impact of science fiction technologies on global medicine and health care. His research focuses on the role of AI and digital health technologies in shaping the future of care.

Mesko's keynote will explore how AI can advance personalized medicine and the responsible use of AI in respiratory medicine, providing attendees with a glimpse into the future of AI in health care and the potential benefits and challenges it presents.

The opening session will also include an address from Maria Neira, MD, MPH, director of public health, environmental and social determinants of health at the World Health Organization. Her address will provide a broader perspective on the global health implications of AI and other technological advancements.

Benefits and Risks of Generative AI in Health Care

On Tuesday, September 10, a unique and exciting session at this year’s ERS Congress will feature AMECA, one of the most advanced humanoid robots in the world. AMECA will engage with the audience and answer questions to explore the potential benefits and risks of integrating generative AI into respiratory medicine, looking at how it has already been utilized as well as potential future applications.

The session is designed to facilitate an open dialogue among presenters, attendees, and AMECA, and participants will be encouraged to reflect critically on the social and ethical implications of incorporating this technology into their professional environments and patient self-management practices. This session is particularly relevant for a wide range of attendees, including pulmonologists, general practitioners, medical students, nurses, respiratory critical care physicians, thoracic oncologists, pediatricians, and more.

Reference

Humans and machines: getting the balance right - ERS Congress 2024 theme. ERS. Accessed September 4, 2024. https://www.ersnet.org/congress-and-events/congress/programme/ers-congress-programme-highlights-and-features/congress-theme-humans-and-machines/