New research aims to ensure gender bias does not affect future AI healthcare systems

Recent advances in radar sensing technology could underpin a new generation of vital sign monitoring, experts said. A number of AI-enhanced vital sign monitoring systems, including Glasgow University’s £5.5m Healthcare QUEST, are currently in development.

The projects are exploring the potential of sensors to keep track of the rhythms of patients’ hearts and lungs without requiring them to wear monitoring devices or be tracked on video cameras, instead supported by less-invasive AI monitoring systems.

The AI will spot the signs of an unexpected change in heart rate or respiration, alerting aid if needed. Researchers said the technology could help vulnerable groups like older people live more independently at home or in assisted accommodation, as well as provide additional insight into the wellbeing of hospital patients.

Researchers from Glasgow University’s James Watt School of Engineering said that a ‘critically important’ consideration for any future radar-based health monitoring system is ensuring that its AI component is properly trained and equally capable of making the correct judgements without bias towards one gender of patients.