AI & the Life Sciences | Developments in Connectomics & Radiology

AI & the Life Sciences | Developments in Connectomics & Radiology
Vicar Sayeedi
February 26, 2021

The application of Artificial Intelligence in the Life Sciences is one of the most exciting areas in which AI can and is having a profound impact. This is because AI has the potential to improve the quality of life and health outcomes for millions or even billions of ordinary people across the globe. AI can compensate for key shortages of highly trained medical staff, thus dramatically improving healthcare access. It can also constantly monitor human biometrics and thus alert the individual and their health system at the very first sign of emerging pathology.

Artificial Intelligence is also capable of processing volumes of medical data that for humans remains incomprehensible and AI can complete this processing in a matter of seconds. This process can potentially identify patterns that can predict the onset of various pathologies along a timeline in which they can be quickly contained and before any significant harm has been done to patient health. This will improve the quality of life for patients around the world who may have previously lacked healthcare access and it will also reduce costs for financially stressed health systems throughout both the Developing and Developed World.

One important area where Artificial Intelligence is playing just such a role is in the medical field of Radiology. For the past several years, Researchers at Stanford University’s Department of Computer Science have been working on a fascinating application of Deep Learning Neural Networks in the area of Radiology. They have developed an AI Agent that can identify pathology in x-rays. The Researchers used a set of 100,000 x-ray charts they received from the National Institutes of Health. Some charts had no pathology while others did present some pathology. The NIH also provided comprehensive information regarding the nature of the pathology. The Stanford AI application was ‘trained’ on these 100,000 charts and was then tested by showing it new charts. The tests demonstrated that the AI was accurate 33% of the time whereas Radiologists trained at Stanford Medical School were accurate 95% of the time.

The researchers obtained a second dataset of 200,000 additional x-rays from Stanford University’s Medical School and continued to ‘train’ the AI application with this new dataset. The AI application is now 98% accurate in identifying pathology in the x-rays along with the nature of the disease.

If we think about all the rural and urban communities in the Developing World or in the numerous conflict zones where the need for effective diagnosis exists, an AI application like the one from Stanford will be of inestimable value – there may now be diagnostic imaging equipment available in some of these distant communities but it’s unlikely that they will have Radiologists available with the capacity or skill to effectively read so many diagnostic images. In fact, the sad reality is that amongst the world’s population of 7.5 billion, only 2 billion have access to medical imaging and subsequent professional diagnosis.

The Godfather of Deep Learning, Geoff Hinton at the University of Toronto, along with his protégés, Yashua Benjio at the University of Montreal and Yann LuCann at NYU, believe that we should stop training so many Radiologists because within five years AI will be so superior to humans in detecting and diagnosing disease that Radiologists will be used in a different way in the medical field. Scientists at Stanford agree with Hinton but Radiologists at the University of Chicago Medical School believe that such claims are exaggerated. Nevertheless, there are currently only 38,000 Radiologists practicing in the US and these new AI Radiology Agents take just 46 seconds to read, identify and assess pathology in the same volume of images than these highly trained and experienced Radiologists can do in two days.

Hence, the ability of Artificial Intelligence Agents such as the one from Stanford is very likely to lower the cost of Radiology services while also providing very rapid analysis. Such AI Agents will also make these services much more accessible to underserved communities around the world.


Another exciting, albeit futuristic, application of Artificial Intelligence in the Life Sciences is in the field of Connectomics. Aurora 21 is a supercomputer being developed by the US Department of Energy at Argonne National Labs in Suburban Chicago. The Department of Energy is collaborating with Intel, IBM and others in building America’s first Exascale computer that can simultaneously process a quintillion instructions. That’s 10 raised to the power 18. When completed, The Aurora 21 machine will occupy a ¼ acre of physical space and will be the world’s fastest supercomputer.

A key application for this state of the art machine will be in the science of Connectomics. Aurora 21 and the Connectomics project will work to map the 85 billion or so neurons in the human brain, along with the synaptic links between each of these neurons, into silicon. Once the human neural network – the interconnected neuronal pathways of the brain – are mapped, then, in theory, it is essentially preserved indefinitely. This may be one of the greatest achievements in the history of scientific discovery.

Although Connectomics research is still in early stages and requires computational ability that can easily consume all available computing resources currently available on the planet, the implications of such a mapping are profound. It may yet take four to eight decades, but once we succeed, we will have essentially extricated the human mind from its biochemical host and preserved it indefinitely in silicon based memory chips and processors. Then, each mind may have the potential to live on indefinitely. We have yet to understand the implications for succeeding in such an unsettling task but, much like the CRISPR Cas9 Gene Editing technique pioneered by Jennifer Doudna of the University of California Berkley and Emanuel Charpentier of Max Planck in Berlin and recently recognized by the Nobel Committee in 2020, there are many ethical and philosophical questions that we will need to consider.

We do not understand the place or role of the human conscience as we move forward in this extrication of the human mind from its biochemical host – for example, will the conscience automatically transfer during this extrication process or not – and this will lead to tremendous controversy, ethical debate and cause for regulation, much like we are currently experiencing in the field of gene editing.

Ethical and philosophical challenges not withstanding, the potential for progress in such extrication and transplantation, or transhumanism to silicon is staggering. So many of the ideas that have frustrated human minds for centuries suddenly become plausible and feasible. For example, the content of our mind – that is our thoughts and ideas, our memories and personality and even our conscience – this can readily and easily move from place to place, not simply on Earth, but across the Universe and at light speed. This scientific and technological path makes mass Earth and space travel realistic for the first time in human history while simultaneously disturbing the path of evolutionary biology with this alternative and profound path of intelligent design. In fact the more we think about it, we find the possibilities resulting from Connectomics are endless.

At this point, you might be thinking that this is just science fiction but in fact nothing we are discussing is contradicted by the laws of physics, according to Professor and Theoretical Physicist, Michio Kaku at the City University of New York. We are now capable of exploring the Universe as pure consciousness, traveling, when needed, at the speed of light, and then embodied in Avatars or exoskeletons once at our destination.

Of course, this does call into question what it really means to be human anymore – and we are uncertain about the consequences of embarking upon the Connectomics and Transhumanism trajectory even though we are scientifically convinced that through silicon and Artificial Intelligence algorithms we can potentially preserve human consciousness, memories, personalities and thoughts indefinitely. Although we may be fifty years from rudimentary capability in these revolutionary sciences, by the end of the century we may have realistic abilities for such preservation of human life.

But what might we get wrong along this journey and what might the consequences of these mistakes be? We are interrupting Evolutionary Biology. Is this a step forward for humankind or is it some form of an escape? These are questions that remain to be answered as Aurora 21 and other Quantum and Super Computers enabled by Artificial Intelligence unlock the secrets of the human mind in the coming decades.






Vicar Sayeedi is a Computer Scientist and Engineer, a Lecturer and a Consultant. Vicar is also the author of several books. His most recent book is about Artificial Intelligence and is titled, The Génome Affair.

Vicar is most interested in the big questions facing humankind. He is particularly focused on studying at the confluence of the five great disciplines of Human History, Political Science and Thought, International Affairs, Science and Technology. This intersection offers a deep understanding and pedagogically important lessons of how advances in human endeavor have influenced and impacted civilization.

Vicar has been writing books, essays and poetry for many years. For the past 30 years, Vicar has worked in the Technology and Pharmaceutical industries. He is currently a Consultant in the Life Sciences Industry and lives in suburban Chicago with his wife and their three grown children [if they decide to visit during the holidays!]

You can find Vicar’s recent book on AI, The Génome Affair on Amazon at this link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YQ7M9Q7

The most recent episodes of Vicar’s ai & u! Podcast are on YouTube at the following links:

Episode 1 - https://youtu.be/yNYr28jtY_k
What is Artificial Intelligence? What is Human Intelligence?

Episode 2 - https://youtu.be/kAEgDNh1Nwc
How Did We Get Here? Machine Learning, Neural Networks & the AI Lexicon, Exciting AI Agents

Episode 3 - https://youtu.be/3PYCyv1pCgM
Deep Mind - How Powerful is Narrow AI? State Surveillance and Surveillance Capitalism

Episode 4 - https://youtu.be/WvobCMIM_H4
Impact on Societies That Possess Artificial Intelligence Versus Those that Do Not!

Episode 5 - https://youtu.be/4JVpvm4g79g
Surveillance Capitalism, Surveillance State, 4th Industrial Revolution, Bifurcation of Sapiens

Episode 6 - https://youtu.be/e1q2GgcWQok
AI, Blockchain & Quantum Computing - Implications for Global and National Governance

Episode 7 - https://youtu.be/4bDSUvrOdd4
Popular Perceptions of Intelligence, the Seat of Human Intelligence and Implications for AI

Episode 8 - https://youtu.be/3GjHqQZL7Pk
AI - Why Should I care? Plus Exciting Updates from Elon Musk and Neuralink!

Episode 9 - https://youtu.be/enpecqDecC8
AI - Excellence, Innovation & Genius

Episode 10 - https://youtu.be/UsriESlTjdA
Implications for AI as China and the West Decouple

Episode 11 - https://youtu.be/0CpaMb-yw3g
Artificial Intelligence: Ethics, Law & Society

Episode 12 - https://youtu.be/PLzodrLWMq0
AI & Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems

Episode 13 - https://youtu.be/Lm_nrNyJRbA
AI & the Future of Work in Industry 4.0 – the 4th Industrial Revolution

Episode 14 - https://youtu.be/_3E1Mhr_Dt8
Artificial Intelligence and its Implications for Authoritarianism and Democracy

Episode 15 - https://youtu.be/IpMUqHOEd7w
Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness & the Future of Homo Sapiens

Episode 16 - https://youtu.be/mIf7_VMzGKo
AI and its Implications for America's Political Environment

Episode 17 - https://youtu.be/gsMRPnovZGI
Special Episode: Reading From The Génome Affair

Episode 18 - https://youtu.be/UxNxtWDCREM
Artificial Intelligence - Digital Tyranny, Datocracy and the Imitation Game

Episode 19 - https://youtu.be/Db8U0QQWWuY
Does Artificial Intelligence Really Replicate Human Intelligence?

Episode 20 - https://youtu.be/Np18AEq-6DM
AI & Rising Geopolitical Tensions Between China & The West

Episode 21 - https://youtu.be/fOMSvNiixA0
AI & In-vitro Fertilization [IVF]

Episode 22 - https://youtu.be/EQPpRhIV6Kw
AI & Human Intelligence: A Complex Relationship

Episode 23 - https://youtu.be/EAbQ7stY7JQ
AI Upends the World of Structural Biology

Episode 24 - https://youtu.be/Bsb1F8uoBpA
AI & COVID-19: An Extraordinary Contribution

Episode 25 - https://youtu.be/PqL5PCRc8tA
AI, Connectomics & Transhumanism: the Future of Humankind

Episode 26 - https://youtu.be/HI8Zjl8VM8U
Dramatic Upheaval Inside Google's Ethical AI Team

Episode 27 - https://youtu.be/TqWwJYc2GxQ
AI & Cyber Espionage | How Will the Sunburst Attack Affect Our Security?

Episode 28 - https://youtu.be/89BcThqgcfQ
AI & the Rapidly Escalating Threat from Deep Fake Videos

Episode 29 - https://youtu.be/zvOHRMmJNB4
AI, Facial Recognition Technology & The Digital Surveillance State

Episode 30 - https://youtu.be/br4ygfEWdk0
AI & Social Media | The Most Destructive AI We've Ever Seen?

Episode 31 - https://youtu.be/sOy12ii8zwM
The Democratization of AI & The 2021 Maiflower Expedition | Plymouth, England to Plymouth, MA

Episode 32 - https://youtu.be/bixdLL74reE
Sino-American Cold War | A Blessing in Disguise for America?

Episode 33 - https://youtu.be/tTRm312DgMc
AI & the Tyranny of Meritocracy

Episode 34 - https://youtu.be/FpPzC5VP6GM
In the Midst of Chaos and Pandemic | A Big AI Announcement From the Trump Administration

Episode 35 - https://youtu.be/bK3xCBwrG8w
Artificial Super Intelligence – Can We Control It?

Episode 36 - https://youtu.be/Rc60DQ0L86Q
A New America | Hope with a Big Dose of Caution

Episode 37 - https://youtu.be/UBenYYHbYqM
Will AI [Science & Tech] Benefit From a New Cold War with China?

Episode 38 - https://youtu.be/JewJnPywnOU
Will AI Eventually Replace All Other Forms of Government?

Episode 39 - https://youtu.be/ibuJ8vozyqg
Will AI Perpetuate Bias in Employment, Health Systems, Law and Society?

Episode 40 - https://youtu.be/IJYbPfGC-08
AI | Will it be the Bain of Cyber Criminals?

Episode 41 - https://youtu.be/ozrO5_XTYKQ
AI | What Will it Mean for the Future of Work?

Episode 42 - https://youtu.be/kDKapDK-Vb0
AI | A Harbinger for the End of Democracy?

Episode 43 - https://youtu.be/7XeNyE8CA9I
AI & the Life Sciences | Developments in Connectomics - Transhumanism & Radiology
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Published on February 25, 2021 08:59
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