Hello, I’m Dr. Maria Rosario Sevilia, and I would like to thank the Aman College of Cardiology and the Philippine Heart Association for inviting me to speak on the topic of what is ChatGPT and will it replace us. I did not use ChatGPT to create this presentation, but I want to discuss its potential impact on the practice of medicine.
Since the 1950s, computer science has aimed to create machines that replicate human intelligence and behavioral patterns. In recent decades, there has been significant progress in machine learning and deep learning, allowing computers to analyze large data sets and mimic the brain’s neural networks. Artificial intelligence (AI) is now an integral part of our lives, from virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa to search engines like Google.
In the field of cardiology, digital technology has revolutionized the practice. Electronic medical records, computer-based ECG programs, smart devices, and advanced imaging modalities have become essential tools for cardiologists. The use of statistical algorithms and outcomes prediction has also become prevalent. However, the latest breakthrough in deep learning is the availability of generative AI, which can create new content based on large language models.
One such program is ChatGPT, which was released in November 2022. It is a generative pre-trained Transformer software that can work with billions of data parameters. The chat interface of ChatGPT allows anyone with a keyboard to engage in conversations with the program. By training on vast amounts of data, ChatGPT can replicate and produce human-like text products, including poetry, research papers, translations, and even computer code.
ChatGPT operates similarly to predictive text on our phones and laptops, predicting patterns of common words and phrases in paragraphs and pages. However, it can also produce well-written but incorrect replies. Plagiarism and copyright infringement concerns have arisen due to ChatGPT’s ability to replicate previously written materials.
While ChatGPT has shown promise in various fields, including passing bar exams and medical licensing exams, it still has limitations. In the field of cardiology, ChatGPT can provide diagnostic aids for low-complexity medical questions but cannot replace expert consultation. Patient education and communication should still involve human review of ChatGPT’s responses for appropriateness.
Privacy concerns also exist with ChatGPT, as conversations are reviewed by the company for improvement and training purposes. Users should be cautious about sharing sensitive information. Additionally, ChatGPT’s responses may contain erroneous or outdated information, as the free version was trained on data available until 2021.
In conclusion, ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can assist healthcare workers in handling large amounts of data and performing repetitive tasks. However, it cannot replace the expertise, empathy, and ethical considerations provided by human cardiologists. It is crucial for cardiologists to stay informed about the rapid changes in AI and ensure that AI programs like ChatGPT remain within their supervision and adhere to regulations and ethical guidelines.
As we continue to explore the capabilities of artificial intelligence, it is essential to question whether current AI systems have achieved true human intelligence. The imitation game proposed by Alan Turing raises this question, and while ChatGPT can reproduce human-like writings, the debate about machine intelligence is ongoing.
