A word from Louis š¾
Can AI hear what matters?
I have believed the best technology is technology that knows its place. Preferably below the office dog.
A study tested an AI-enabled stethoscope on 54 dogs and 51 cats, comparing its results with assessments from experts and students. The device detected 33 of the 38 heart murmurs found in dogs, putting it level with the fourth-year veterinary students.
That sounds impressive. Unfortunately, its work on heart rhythms was less distinguished. It identified all six dogs with a trial fibrillation, but also incorrectly claimed another 22 dogs had it. It did not classify a dog as free from an abnormal rhythm.
The feline results were worse. Of 22 cats with murmurs, the AI detected only two.
There is a detail: the device was designed for humans and trained on human data. As those of us with four legs have been saying for years, we are not simply smaller, furrier people.
The researchersā conclusion was sensible. The technology could be useful for recording heart sounds and producing ECG tracings, but its interpretations should support a trained vet, not replace one.
A useful reminder for every workplace: AI can assist good judgement, but it cannot supply the expertise, context or accountability behind it.