Regulating generative artificial intelligence, or GAI, devices in caregiving settings will present unique challenges to senior living operators, policymakers, software developers and others. That is the conclusion in a recent opinion piece in the New England Journal of Medicine. David Blumenthal, MD, former president of the Commonwealth Fund, and Bakul Patel of Google suggest that new standards and rules should be put in place to ensure optimal care.
For operators of senior living and other long-term care facilities, their proposed remedies could dramatically affect the way AI-driven medical tools are implemented and relied on.
Specifically, the authors propose that GAI tools undergo a system of training, testing, licensing and supervision akin to the rigorous standards clinicians must meet. This includes completing degree programs, passing licensing exams and participating in continuing education. This approach, they argue, would help ensure the quality and safety of clinical GAI tools.
The full article can be found here.
Their opinion piece comes at a time when concerns about the accuracy, transparency and accountability of AI systems are being raised on multiple fronts.
Several high-profile incidents involving AI errors in clinical settings have highlighted the need for stringent oversight. In response, policymakers are considering new regulations to establish standards and guidelines for the development and deployment of AI in healthcare settings, including long-term care.
The McKnight’s Tech Daily is an e-newsletter for the audiences of McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care.
