Artificial intelligence in medicine: past, present, and future

Abstract Artificial intelligence is a powerful technology that promises to vastly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of health-care delivery, and usher in the era of precision medicine, transforming our everyday lives. It is helping accelerate basic biomedical research, delivering insights into disease pathophysiology, and guiding new treatment discovery. It is optimizing clinical trials and translational research, bringing us closer to new treatments faster. At a time when the health-care system is under more strain than ever, artificial intelligence promises to revolutionize health-care delivery by capitalizing on the totality of health-related data in order to optimize clinical decision-making for each individual and improve access to health-care for all. To deliver on these promises, we must bring together basic and applied researchers, engineers, and clinicians to address the many outstanding challenges in a timely and responsible manner. It is all of our duty to strive for the safe, fair, and efficient delivery of this technology to all.