Google’s MedLM: AI Revolution in Healthcare for Clinicians and Researchers

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Joaquim Cardoso MSc.

Chief Research and Strategy Officer (CRSO),
Chief Editor and Senior Advisor

December 14, 2023

What is the message?

Google’s latest venture into healthcare, MedLM, introduces a suite of artificial intelligence (AI) models designed for medical applications.

Representing a strategic move to monetize AI tools in the healthcare industry, Google aims to address the complex needs of clinicians and researchers.

The suite includes large and medium-sized AI models built on Med-PaLM 2, reflecting Google’s commitment to providing tailored solutions in a fiercely competitive market.

One page summary

What are the key points?

MedLM Suite Overview:

Google’s MedLM comprises large and medium-sized AI models tailored for medical tasks, derived from Med-PaLM 2, a language model trained on medical data. This suite is positioned to assist in studies, doctor-patient interaction summaries, and more.

Strategic Monetization:

Google’s entry into healthcare AI, amid competition from Amazon and Microsoft, underscores a strategic move to monetize AI tools in the healthcare sector. The suite’s adaptability addresses varied medical tasks, ensuring a versatile application.

Flexible Model Usage:

MedLM’s suite introduces a large model for intricate tasks requiring deep knowledge and computing power, while the medium-sized model is optimized for agile functions like real-time interaction summarization.

Real-world Applications:

Healthcare organizations, including HCA Healthcare and BenchSci, have tested Google’s AI technology. Real-world applications include automating documentation for emergency medicine physicians and aiding drug discovery by identifying biomarkers.

What are the key examples?

• HCA Healthcare Implementation: HCA Healthcare has been testing MedLM to automate documentation for emergency medicine physicians, reducing clerical workload. Additionally, MedLM is being explored for developing a handoff tool for nurses, addressing a significant pain point in healthcare workflows.

• BenchSci’s Integration: BenchSci merges MedLM’s AI with its technology to accelerate scientists’ efforts in identifying biomarkers crucial for understanding disease progression and potential cures. The collaborative approach aims to enhance specificity and efficiency in drug discovery.

What are the key strategies?

• Diverse Model Suite: Google’s strategy involves offering a suite of AI models rather than a one-size-fits-all solution, acknowledging that different medical tasks require specific models. This approach ensures adaptability and effectiveness across various healthcare scenarios.

• Continuous Improvement: Google emphasizes ongoing research and collaboration with healthcare clients to fine-tune MedLM models for multiple use cases. The commitment to domain-specific models that are smaller, cheaper, faster, and better reflects a dedication to continuous improvement.

Conclusion

Google’s introduction of MedLM represents a significant step in leveraging AI for healthcare applications.

The real-world implementations with HCA Healthcare and BenchSci showcase the versatility and potential impact of these models.

While challenges, such as potential inaccuracies and the need for careful implementation, are acknowledged, the positive response from healthcare providers underscores the promise of AI in addressing workflow inefficiencies.

As Google plans to introduce health-care-specific versions of Gemini to MedLM in the future, the healthcare industry anticipates further advancements in AI technologies for improved patient care and streamlined operations.

DEEP DIVE

This summary is based on the article “Google is rolling out new AI models for health care. Here’s how doctors are using them”, published by CNBC and written by Ashley Capoot, on December 13, 2023.

To read the original publication, click here.

Mentioned names

Dr. Michael Schlosser, senior vice president of care transformation and innovation at HCA.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet.

Aashima Gupta, Google Cloud’s global director of health-care strategy and solutions.

Greg Corrado, head of Google’s health AI.

Liran Belenzon, BenchSci’s co-founder and CEO.

Dr. Kulleni Gebreyes, Deloitte’s U.S. life sciences and health-care consulting leader.