Thanks to AI, 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 really a growing trend these days. And this is net of some recent copyright disputes, or the fact that some companies, such as Adobe, have used the images of their customers 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 to be addressed.
How does the TTCare app work?
The app processes pet images by comparing them to its vast data set 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.
In the event of a more serious problem being 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 vet visits in their area. I was earlier, as always, to show you the video. The app also acts as a log to keep track of physical parameters, vaccinations or visits already made.
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, at the time of writing, I don't have any sick pets to test this on! I can tell you, though, that TTCare received the honor award at the Innovation Awards of CES 2023 just finished, and this I guess offers some assurance if nothing else about the potential of the technology.
