In an episode of The Business of Dentistry Podcast, host Hazel Dockery from Practice Plan sat down with Jay Shah and Hannah Burrow, co-founders of Kiroku, to discuss the ethical considerations of AI in clinical practice.
Having previously discussed the benefits of AI in dentistry, they explored AI’s impact, common misconceptions, and best practices for ensuring responsible and secure AI implementation. Listen to it below, or read on for a summary.
AI is More Than Just ChatGPT
AI is often associated with tools like ChatGPT, but Jay reminds us that its scope is much broader. “I think the way I always think about it is when a machine is trying to accomplish a task that usually requires some form of human intelligence,” he explains.
AI can range from simple automation, like Google Maps optimising travel routes, to more complex systems that generate text or make clinical recommendations.
Despite its presence in daily life, AI remains a source of confusion and concern. Hannah notes that people often mistake automation for AI. “Sometimes anything that’s automated is referred to as AI,” she says.
Understanding the distinction is crucial when evaluating the ethical considerations of AI in clinical settings.
Common Misconceptions About AI
One of the biggest misconceptions about AI stems from its portrayal in popular media. “The movie industry probably hasn’t done AI justice,” Jay notes. “Everyone’s used to I, Robot or The Terminator - the big avenging AI that’s going to be evil and take over the world.”
While recent advancements like ChatGPT have shown AI’s potential for good, fears of job displacement and unchecked automation persist.
However, as Hannah points out, AI in dentistry is not about replacing clinicians but assisting them. “It is a tool to help the clinician. It doesn’t replace the decision-making of the clinician,” she stresses.
Key Ethical Concerns in AI
As AI becomes more integrated into healthcare, its ethical implications must be carefully considered. Jay highlights three primary concerns:
- Bias and Discrimination: AI is trained on vast datasets, which can introduce biases. “With that, there’s naturally some bias and discrimination,” Jay acknowledges. “A lot of work needs to be done to make sure AI works fairly.”
- Misinformation: AI-generated content is not infallible. Jay shares a personal anecdote: “Yesterday, I was making some pizza dough. AI gave me the wrong quantities of water, and it just turned into mush.” While this was a minor inconvenience, similar misinformation in a clinical setting could have serious consequences.
- Data Privacy and Security: Given AI’s reliance on data, protecting patient information is paramount. Hannah underscores the importance of due diligence when adopting AI tools: “You need to understand what the security and data handling rules are around the company.”
Ensuring Ethical AI Implementation in Dentistry
Hannah and Jay agree that AI should be designed to assist rather than dictate clinical decisions. “Never take the output of AI as the right answer,” Hannah warns. “It’s like reviewing a dough recipe - you need to check before implementing it.”
For AI companies, responsible design means prioritising transparency and user oversight. “We need to design a product that makes it as easy as possible for clinicians to review AI-generated suggestions,” she says.
This includes ensuring that clinicians have final authority over decisions and are not misled into assuming AI outputs are always correct.
The Role of Data Security in Ethical AI
AI’s dependence on large datasets raises concerns about data security and compliance. Hannah advises clinicians to investigate how AI tools handle patient data. “Look into what the company does to ensure data safety. Are they following regulations like GDPR in Europe or HIPAA in the US?”
Jay emphasises that data security is a shared responsibility between AI companies and users. “As Kiroku, we have to do everything in our power to make sure any sensitive data is safe,” he says. “But ultimately, clinicians should also check where their data is going.”
He recommends looking for security certifications and ensuring that data isn’t used for AI model training without consent. That’s why Kiroku has created a Trust Centre that allows you to see how we manage the data of our customers and their patients.
The Future of AI in Dentistry
Despite these challenges, both Jay and Hannah are excited about AI’s potential to improve dentistry.
Jay is particularly interested in the rapid development of AI-powered applications. “It’s not just the AI advancing, but what people are building on top of it,” he says. He cites a recent innovation where AI-generated code can instantly produce a working website, something that would have previously required manual development.
Hannah shares a similar sentiment. “Right now, we’re only limited by our imagination,” she says. “The rate at which these things develop is going to be transformative. I don’t think we can predict what the end of this year will look like.”
For dentists, this means adapting to a rapidly evolving landscape where AI plays an increasingly supportive role.
Hannah notes that AI is already streamlining workflows, allowing clinicians to focus more on patient care. “When I plan my week, I ask myself, ‘Which tasks can I hand off to AI?’ It’s about increasing efficiency, not replacing human expertise.”
Embracing AI Responsibly
As AI continues to shape the dental industry, ethical considerations must remain at the forefront. Transparency, data security, and clinician oversight are crucial for ensuring that AI serves as a valuable tool rather than an unchecked authority.
The discussion highlights the importance of informed decision-making when integrating AI into clinical practice. While AI holds immense potential, its success ultimately depends on how responsibly it is developed and used.
By maintaining a balance between innovation and ethical safeguards, the dental community can harness AI’s power to enhance both patient care and practitioner efficiency.
The conversation on AI ethics is far from over, and as advancements continue, ongoing discussions will be necessary.
For now, dental professionals can take proactive steps to educate themselves on AI’s benefits and risks, ensuring they remain at the forefront of ethical and technological advancements in their field.
If you’re interested in seeing how AI can help you with your dental notes, check out Kiroku’s AI-powered voice notes. Create your Kiroku account today to take advantage of a 14-day free trial and see how many hours you can save in your clinical day.
BODCAST is the business of dentistry podcast, brought to you by Practice Plan. BODCAST delivers the best business advice, real life stories, and practical hints and tips to make your practice a more profitable and sustainable business. This podcast was originally posted on the Practice Plan website. Listen to more Bodcasts from Practice Plan.
