Science fiction makes for fascinating literature and movies. Just look at the popularity of Star Trek and Star Wars. The capacity for human innovation is never-ending. In my lifetime, I've seen men land on the moon and projections for astronauts to land on Mars. Who knows what's next?

Artificial intelligence was a lead story this morning. Scientists applying AI are working on a cure for liver cancer. One of the main roadblocks to health and longevity is a physical illness. We all had a rude awakening during the recent international pandemic. It was sobering to see the damage that could be wreaked by a virus so dangerous that it killed millions. Scientists and epidemiologists are undoubtedly waiting for 'the ball to drop' when it comes to the next pandemic to ravage the globe. 

One certainty is that there are no guarantees. We do the best we can, take the necessary precautions, live as healthy a lifestyle as possible, and hope that genes and fate will prevail.

But scientific discoveries can enhance outcomes. Tremendously encouraging news was just published. Insilico Medicinea, a multinational biotechnology company, partnered with researchers at the University of Toronto Acceleration Consortium to use AI-powered tools to develop a possible treatment for liver cancer. Pharma.AI and AlphaFold software located a new pathway to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a deadly liver cancer that takes 700,000 lives a year. This discovery could be a game-changer and pave the way for artificial intelligence to help find other disease cures. The research, led by Alán Aspuru-Guzik, was just published in the Chemical Science journal in January of 2023. 

Google has entered the healthcare AI arena as well. The giant tech company is now employing AI tools to interpret ultrasound readings when professionally trained staff is not available. The applications for the tool include diagnosis of early breast cancer and interpreting gestation time in pregnancies. Google teamed up with the Kenya nonprofit Jacaranda Health.

The head of Google’s Health AI head, Greg Corrado, and Engineering VP Yossi Matias, jointly wrote in a blog post, “Through this partnership, we’ll conduct exploratory research to understand the current approach to ultrasound delivery in Kenya and explore how new AI tools can support point-of-care ultrasound for pregnant women."

Google is also working with Taiwan's Chang Gung Memorial Hospital to research how AI can detect breast cancer through ultrasound. In some patients who have higher breast density, it has been found that mammograms are not completely effective as diagnostic tools--so ultrasound offers a viable alternative. 

It is fascinating that Google revealed their artificial intelligence scored 85 percent on doctor-level medical exam questions. That was up by 18 percent from the previous version. But don't hold your breath for your flesh and blood doc to be replaced! Google says its technology is not ready for that major switch just yet.