Stakeholder Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics and Big Data in Healthcare: An Empirical Study

Abstract

A qualitative survey was based on 17 experts sharing free associations on the introduction of AI, robotics and big data into the healthcare sector, featuring the benefits and risks but also contemporary applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics and big data in healthcare. The survey was implemented by a standardized questionnaire featuring open-ended questions, which the author emailed to potential respondents. (1) Implications of the use of AI, robotics and big data in the healthcare sector are: • Tailored medicine with precision, efficiency and excellence assisting humans • Big data is commodified, misused to discriminate implying privacy and safety risk • AI-led market disruptions bring rising costs, preponderance and unpredictable risk (2) Benefits of AI, robotics and big data in healthcare are: • Big-data driven knowledge generation and tailored personal medical care • Efficiency, precision and better quality work with broad applicability • 24/7-available, cost-effective and accessible human augmentation and assistance (3) Risks of AI, robotics and big data in healthcare are: • Data misuse and leakage leading to privacy infringements and biases and errors • Loss of humanness and human replacement as well as dependence • Health credit pricing, social stratification, discrimination and manipulation (4) Policy recommendations on AI, robotics and big data in healthcare include: • Data ownership regulation and protection for equal access and attention to health • R&D driven innovation coupled with risk management and human control • Ethics and testing but also stakeholder inclusion with attention to legal aspects (5) Work experience with AI, robotics and big data features: • Healthcare and ensuring equal access and attention to healthcare • Big data creation and analytics for research as consulting and decision support • Fintech, forecasting and risk management but also monitoring and surveillance Overall, the introduction of AI, robotics and big data is seen as positive. The general implications of the use of AI, robotics and big data in the healthcare sector are perceived as neutral as are the policy recommendations for the use of AI, robotics and big data in the healthcare sector. Stakeholder-specific nuances of the different association categories are highlighted based on the four stakeholder groups of (1) academia or educational sectors, (2) business, economics and finance, medical and (3) healthcare professionals and (4) public and legal professionals.