As oncologists, we are all about the data. We very much want to understand what's under the hood exactly, and how exactly those models are being trained. And I think that really the central issue that many individuals have regarding the use of AI within oncology. I think that is what may be preventing individuals from using AI because they may feel uncomfortable with exactly how these things are validated.

I think there's also some concerns regarding whether AI may or may not play a role in certain things not being correct when put into different publications. So I think there's a lot of concerns regarding these things, which I think are very valid points, and I think we need to be very cautious about these areas.

But I also see the upside of how AI can be useful. I would describe myself as an early adopter of AI, since my days in fellowship and then moving into my early career practice, it has made me a better oncologist. It has made me a better physician and a better communicator as well.

It really equalizes the playing field, I think, for individuals who are not subspecialists, who are general community oncology doctors or may not possess the same level of knowledge that more senior or experienced physicians may have. It equalizes the playing field in that the data are out there and it's just about being able to access it. All of us cannot know every possible study within breast cancer. I struggle every day to just keep up with what's out there now just as a subspecialist. But having AI allows me to summarize, to be able to look up information, and synthesize that information at a much faster pace than my colleagues who do not utilize AI.

That's where I see the benefit of using AI from a practicality standpoint in my day-to-day practice. It makes me more efficient. It makes me a better physician. It makes me a better oncologist.

My level of comfort has grown as I've used AI more, and try different platforms as well. I mainly like to use OpenEvidence within oncology, given that it has signed agreements with some of the most major journals and NCCN Guidelines as well. I utilize that source very frequently in my everyday life in terms of synthesizing data and making practical clinical decisions based on some of that information too.

Matthew Kurian, MD, is a staff oncologist at St. Elizabeth Healthcare and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Kentucky.

Disclaimer: This commentary represents the views of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views of ASCO, Conexiant, or ASCO AI in Oncology.

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