Thanks to artificial intelligence, lucky (but apprehensive) pet owners could reduce unnecessary trips to the vet. A new app promises to "diagnose" disorders in our furry friends only by observing photos taken with our smartphone.
A smart working vet
AI is indeed a growing trend these days. And this is despite some recent controversies regarding copyright, or the fact that some companies, such as Adobe, have used their customers' images to train the technology. We have often talked about employment implications of its advent, and just recently I told you about how an “AI lawyer” he will appear in court in a few weeks. It seems that the debut of something resembling a veterinarian is also approaching.
TTcare (this is the name of the app developed by the Korean company AI for Pet) analyzes images of the skin and eyes of pets, taken by the owners themselves, to recognize any health problems that need to be addressed.
How does the TTCare app work?
The app processes pet images by comparing them to its vast dataset and analyzing them with its learning models to produce results that the company claims are accurate over 90%. But what can it do TTcare? First, diagnose problems with eye, skin, and joint health, providing further steps about preventative care or whether you need medical help.
If a more serious problem is diagnosed, pet owners can also participate in virtual consultations with a qualified (human) veterinarian, again via the app. This way they can ask questions and receive options about care, including in-person veterinary visits in their area. I was earlier, as always, to show you the video. The app also acts as a register to keep track of physical parameters, vaccinations or visits already carried out.
Is it to be trusted?
I'll be honest: I have no idea how accurate or reliable this new robot vet (but call it an AI system) is. Thankfully, as of this writing, I have no sick pets to test this on! I can tell you, however, that TTCare received the honorary award at the Innovation Awards CES 2023 just finished, and this I guess offers some assurance if nothing else about the potential of the technology.
