GE Health says it plans to develop an AI-assisted ultrasound imaging tool that is so simple, that even healthcare providers without specialized training will be able to use it. The research and development will be funded by a $44 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has historically invested in the roll-out of new technologies in resource-poor settings to address gaps in healthcare access.GE says the AI-powered imaging technology has been designed to be dispersed to low-and-middle income countries where the services of healthcare providers may be stretched thin. The assessment tools will be more effective at providing clear readings of lung and ultrasound scans across maternal and fetal care as well as pediatric lung health — and will be compatible with a number of inexpensive ultrasound devices. These areas of medicine are particularly notable because maternal and child mortality is mostly preventable if medical intervention occurs early. Proper medical imaging is key to ac
