Artificial intelligence (AI) today is often associated with automating routine tasks, but its potential extends far beyond that. In healthcare, AI’s ability to process vast amounts of data quickly can lead to significant medical advancements and improved patient care, particularly for challenging diseases like cancer.

Othman Laraki, co-founder and CEO of Color Health, emphasized in an interview with PYMNTS’ CEO Karen Webster that while many focus on AI alleviating administrative burdens in healthcare—such as processing, payments, bookkeeping, and transcription of clinical notes—his company aims for something different.

Instead of using AI for automating low-level tasks to save costs, Color Health partnered with OpenAI to leverage AI in areas requiring deep medical expertise, like cancer care, where expertise is scarce and costly. Laraki explained, “We decided, instead of going broad, to go very deep in places where we felt there’d be a very big leverage.”

The collaboration with OpenAI led to a novel approach for accelerating cancer patients' access to treatment using GPT-4. This AI capability helps doctors transform cancer care by focusing on two critical areas: risk-adjusted screening and pre-treatment workup.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and a major driver of healthcare costs. Laraki noted that many individuals at high risk for cancer due to genetics, family history, or lifestyle factors do not receive appropriate screening. AI can bridge this gap by ensuring risk-adjusted guidelines are applied more consistently and accurately.

Laraki highlighted that early diagnosis is crucial in cancer treatment, significantly improving survival rates and reducing treatment costs. AI can identify and monitor high-risk individuals, facilitating earlier and more treatable cancer detection.

The period between cancer diagnosis and treatment initiation often experiences delays, causing patient anxiety and potentially affecting outcomes. AI can expedite the pre-treatment workup by ensuring all necessary tests and preparations are completed before a patient meets their oncologist. This streamlines the process, allowing prompt treatment initiation, improving patient survival rates, and optimizing healthcare resources.

In summary, AI in healthcare, particularly in oncology, holds transformative potential. By enhancing clinician expertise and streamlining critical processes, AI can significantly improve patient care and outcomes.