Google develops AI-powered microscope to detect cancerous tumors
Google has unveiled a prototype microscope based on augmented reality and artificial intelligence technologies to help doctors specialize in diagnosing cancerous tumors and other diseases. Developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense, this advanced microscope can analyze visual indicators, such as heat maps and object boundaries, in real time to determine the presence of cancer cells or other diseases in human tissue samples.
Google first announced the project in 2018, but it has not yet been used to diagnose patients. There are currently 13 prototypes of Google's AI-based augmented reality microscope, which still requires more testing before it becomes a useful tool for doctors specializing in their daily work.
According to Google, the goal is to create a system that can be "integrated into optical microscopes in hospitals and clinics." Microscopes equipped with this system, known as an augmented reality microscope (ARM), can provide a variety of visual annotations, including text, arrows, lines, heat maps, and animations, each designed for specific evaluation purposes.