Artificial Intelligence in Medicine Has a Major Cassandra Problem
Some lessons from the priestess of Troy
Today, I’m going to talk to you about a study at the cutting edge of modern medicine — one that uses an artificial intelligence model to guide care.
But before I talk to you about that, I need to take you back to the late bronze age, to a city located on the coast of what is now Turkey.
It’s towering walls made it seem unassailable, but that would not stop the Achaean’s and their fleet of black ships from making landfall, and, after a siege, destroying the city.
The destruction of Troy, as told in the Iliad and the Aeneid, was foretold by this woman — Cassandra — daughter of King Priam and Priestess of Troy.
Cassandra had been given the gift of prophecy by the god Apollo in exchange for her favors… But after the gift was bestowed, she rejected the bright god and, in his rage, he added a curse to her blessing — that no one would ever…