The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has chosen Jeremy Walsh as its first Chief AI Officer. This move shows the FDA’s plan to use artificial intelligence (AI) more in how it reviews medical devices and medicines.
Walsh used to be the FDA’s Digital Transformation Director. Now, he will lead the agency’s work in adding AI to its daily tasks. This comes at a time when more medical products use AI, and the FDA needs to keep up with the fast changes in technology.
An FDA spokesperson said Walsh has already played a big role in improving the agency’s use of digital tools. He will now report to Dr. Namandjé Bumpus, the FDA’s Principal Deputy Commissioner.
This appointment follows a recent order from FDA Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary. He said that by June, all FDA centers must start using generative AI tools. These tools will help human staff do their jobs faster but won’t replace them.
The FDA recently tested an AI tool to help with scientific reviews. It found that AI can save time by doing basic tasks and spotting patterns in large amounts of data. This makes the review process quicker and more efficient.
In a statement, the FDA said it wants to use AI carefully and responsibly to protect public health and support new ideas. It promised not to lower its scientific standards.
FDA centers are already starting to use AI for tasks like reading research papers, analyzing data, and summarizing documents. Bigger plans for AI use are set for 2025.
Experts believe this step will help the FDA handle its growing workload. The agency has been dealing with delays, especially with the rise in AI-based medical product submissions.
A senior FDA official said the agency must change how it works to keep up with new technology but will still focus on safety and quality.
Human experts will still make the final decisions. AI will only be used as a tool to help them, not to replace them. The FDA also plans to create rules for how AI is used, making sure it’s ethical, secure, and clear.
This new focus on AI is one of the biggest changes in how the FDA works and could change the way medical products are approved in the U.S.
Source: webpronews
