Comment by tchalla
2 days ago
I’ve been hearing for 10 years now on how “AI” will change this clinical rate. It’s now like the “This is the year of Linux” prediction meme. And like Derek has mentioned multiple times you can’t statiscialise biology. I don’t think many people get it so we have tech bros like us throw AI at data.
I've been hearing some form of it since I was an undergrad. I just submitted by packet for full professor. There have been some spectacular strides, but we've been through multiple rounds of "Stand aside, the computers will take it from here."
People saying this stuff aren't in the game. ML has been used in clinical research for basically as long as various ML methods have been around. Basically a century now in other words. AI leaders are trying to get money from people who don't understand the methodology such as investors or trump administration officials. Imagine trying to convince people who actually work day in day out with classic ml and deep learning to use your llm goobly goop bot.
Yeah ML is used in clinical research but the narrative right now is that "AI" will take a target, find a molecule and we will magically have a safe drug in 3 years instead of 12 years. At best, it misunderstands biology and chemistry. At worst, it's one of those tech bro reductive statements.
Even today, I am on a newsletter that has said AI drug will pass clinical trial in 2022 ... 23 .. 24 .. 25. Even the candidates that they talk about are mostly just repurposing. Don't get me wrong, ML has a solid place in clinical research but not like this.