Personalized Overview. by Andres Farrulla

Personalized overview

andresfarrulla — 2025-10-12 23:17:48 UTC

I chose the healthcare industry because I’ve always been interested in how technology can make people’s lives better, especially when it comes to saving lives and improving patient care. Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing healthcare faster than almost any other field. From early disease detection to helping doctors make faster, more accurate decisions, AI feels like the future of medicine already happening now (Topol, 2019).

In this Padlet, I’ll be exploring three specific examples of AI in healthcare: diagnostic imaging, personalized medicine, and patient monitoring. Each example shows a different way AI is improving care — whether it’s reading scans more accurately than humans, creating treatment plans based on a person’s unique DNA, or monitoring patients through smart devices in real time (IBM Watson Health, 2023; Tempus, 2023; Medtronic, 2024).

I chose this topic because I’ve seen firsthand how important fast, reliable healthcare can be for families. The idea that machines can support doctors and nurses, reduce human error, and make healthcare more accessible really inspires me. Through this project, I want to understand not just the technical side of AI, but also how it affects people — patients, medical workers, and society overall (World Health Organization, 2023).

AI in Diagnostic Imaging (IBM Watson Health)

andresfarrulla — 2025-10-12 23:53:56 UTC

IBM Watson Health uses AI to help doctors read medical scans like MRIs and CTs. Machine-learning algorithms analyze thousands of images to find hidden patterns that might indicate cancer, heart disease, or other problems early on (IBM Watson Health, 2023). This speeds up diagnosis and helps doctors avoid missing small details.

Benefits: Earlier and more accurate diagnoses, reduced workload for radiologists.

Challenges: Data privacy, cost of AI systems, and over-reliance on machines (Topol, 2019).

I find this fascinating because it shows how AI can support doctors rather than replace them.

AI in Personalized Medicine (Tempus)

andresfarrulla — 2025-10-13 00:46:46 UTC

Tempus uses AI to study a patient’s DNA and medical history to recommend personalized treatment plans, especially for cancer (Tempus, 2023). The system learns from thousands of previous cases to predict which medications or therapies will work best for a specific person.

Benefits: Tailored treatments, improved outcomes, fewer side effects.

Challenges: High cost, data-sharing concerns, and ethical issues around genetic data (World Health Organization, 2023).

AI in Patient Monitoring (Medtronic)

andresfarrulla — 2025-10-13 00:50:05 UTC

Medtronic develops wearable devices that continuously track patients’ vital signs and alert doctors if something looks off — for example, predicting heart failure before it happens (Medtronic, 2024).

Benefits: Real-time health data, fewer emergency visits, early interventions.
Challenges: Privacy risks, false alarms, and data overload for doctors (Topol, 2019).

think this is amazing for people with chronic illnesses who want independence but still need safety.

Future Trends & Ethical Considerations

andresfarrulla — 2025-10-13 00:50:36 UTC

AI in healthcare will only grow. In the near future, we’ll probably see robots assisting in surgeries, AI predicting disease outbreaks before they spread, and chatbots providing 24/7 health advice (Topol, 2019). Machine learning could help find new drugs faster and even identify health risks from simple daily data like sleep or diet.

But as exciting as this is, it raises serious ethical questions. Who owns the data when an AI system studies your health? What happens if an algorithm makes a mistake? And how do we make sure AI tools are available to everyone — not just people with money or insurance (World Health Organization, 2023)?

To me, the most important ethical consideration is equity. AI should help close healthcare gaps, not widen them. Transparency is also huge — patients deserve to know when decisions are being influenced by machines. I also think emotional care still matters; technology can’t replace human empathy (Topol, 2019).

I’m optimistic about the future, but I think AI should always work alongside people, not replace them.

Overview video part 1

andresfarrulla — 2025-10-13 01:44:47 UTC

Overview video Part 2

andresfarrulla — 2025-10-13 01:47:53 UTC

Societal Impact

andresfarrulla — 2025-10-13 01:49:27 UTC

AI in healthcare has a big impact on society. On one hand, it saves lives, reduces costs, and helps doctors focus more on patients. On the other, it changes jobs, raises privacy issues, and challenges how we think about medical responsibility (World Health Organization, 2023).

For example, if AI takes over some diagnostic tasks, some roles might shrink but new jobs in tech and data science will appear (Topol, 2019). Privacy is another huge issue since AI systems rely on patient data, which could be misused or hacked. AI can also expose inequalities: wealthy hospitals get better systems, while smaller clinics fall behind (WHO, 2023).

Still, I believe the positive outweighs the negative. When used responsibly, AI can bring healthcare to more people — especially in remote areas through telemedicine and smart diagnostics (IBM Watson Health, 2023).

Thinking about these issues made me realize AI isn’t just about machines; it’s about fairness, empathy, and how we choose to use technology for the right of people own needs

Reflection

andresfarrulla — 2025-10-13 01:50:23 UTC

I learned how deeply AI is already ingrained in healthcare from this initiative. I had no idea how quickly these technologies were developing, thus the research process opened my eyes. It was difficult at first to locate reliable sources and comprehend the technical jargon, but I eventually figured out how to simplify and double-check what I read . I also came to see that fairness and ethics are equally as important as technology. I learned from this work how crucial it is to strike a balance between artificial intelligence and human care.

References

andresfarrulla — 2025-10-13 01:51:07 UTC

IBM Watson Health. (2023). AI in diagnostic imaging. IBM Research.
Rationale: This article explains how IBM uses AI to assist doctors in reading complex medical scans and detecting diseases earlier and more accurately.

Tempus. (2023). Precision medicine powered by AI. Tempus Labs.
Rationale: This source shows how AI analyzes genomic data to create personalized treatment plans, helping patients receive more precise care.

Medtronic. (2024). AI for patient monitoring and predictive analytics. Medtronic Insights.
Rationale: This report demonstrates how AI-powered wearable devices allow real-time patient monitoring and early detection of health risks.

Topol, E. (2019). Deep medicine: How artificial intelligence can make healthcare human again. Basic Books.
Rationale: This book provides ethical and human-centered perspectives on how AI can enhance, rather than replace, human care in medicine.

World Health Organization. (2023). Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health. WHO Publications.
Rationale: This global report offers essential guidance on the ethical use and regulation of AI in healthcare.

TEDx Talks. (2023, June 15). AI and the future of precision medicine [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zxz7FEJwQM
Rationale: This video provides a clear, engaging explanation of how AI is transforming personalized medicine and its real-world potential.