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2022 Spark Forum

The 2022 Spark Forum on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Healthcare took place on Friday 25th November in Dogpatch Labs, Dublin. The event focused on the potential that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning have to revolutionize the healthcare industry, with the belief that crossdiscipline innovation in this space can improve healthcare outcomes and also create business success.

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Ossian Smyth, spoke of the national AI Strategy and the importance of building public trust before integrating AI into the workplace. By encouraging organisations to try things out and allowing them to fail, this will provide an experience that allows people to learn, develop and innovate in the future.

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Mark Bagnell from Integrated Information Services (IIS) represented eHealth at the event and spoke about the realities and challenges that IIS face in getting access to gather data to produce products, data integrations and dashboards for a number of stakeholders. Mark said that while AI is amazing, the HSE needs staff with the right skills, strong stakeholder relationships and strong data to support its effective implementation.

Interim HSE CTTO John Ward spoke on the EU Artificial Intelligence Act that will consolidate many of the existing acts around the world into one act which the Irish government will adopt. He noted that healthcare is not perfect and as doctors can make mistakes, so too can machines. Therefore there is great importance in adhering to what has been set out in the Artificial Intelligence Act.

john ward speaking

This was an engaging event that featured great speakers from the healthcare service, start-ups, corporate business, researchers and institutions and provided a platform to share ideas and thoughts on the realities of the introduction to AI in the workplace. With the key themes of the day being transparency and equity, we were treated to a great showcase of the benefits and the things to watch out for regarding AI in the workplace.

 

By Sean Toner
Training & Development