Emotional vs Artificial Intelligence: A Paradigm Shift in Healthcare?
The application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and information management systems (Big Data-BD), combined with advancements in computing capacity, robotics integration, and the Internet of Things (IoT), represents a new technological revolution. This revolution has profound implications for all human relationships, particularly in Medicine and Health Sciences. These new technologies enable us to move towards Personalized, Precision, Predictive, Preventive, Participatory, and Population-based (6P) healthcare.
It is crucial to develop these systems from the outset with a focus on human beings—their most defining needs and characteristics—by applying what we might call Emotional Intelligence (EI). We must recognize that emotional competencies, such as empathy and the ability to identify, understand, and manage one's own and others' emotions, are not just important, but fundamental for professionals. They are integral to the healthcare system, directly influencing the quality of patient care. Likewise, effective communication and stress management are key components of emotional intelligence and are essential for building trusting relationships with patients, better understanding their needs, and providing humane and compassionate treatment.
While AI optimizes data analytics and improves efficiency, EI provides the human component to make care holistic. Neither can replace the other, but together, they have the potential to redefine the healthcare experience, making it more accurate, humane, and efficient. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the complex systems under development address these aspects comprehensively, with control and oversight mechanisms in place to achieve this goal.
Reflecting on these issues, it becomes clear that sharing experiences and knowledge is not just important, but crucial. This collective effort is key to achieving a better-informed society—and, therefore, a freer society that is more in control of its destiny. It's about all of us, as a collective, working towards a common goal.