The Intersection of Artificial Intelligence in Space Medicine: Implications for Science, Religion, and Society
Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have created new opportunities in various sectors, including space medicine. The article titled “Challenges of Artificial Intelligence in Space Medicine” by Waisberg et al. (2022) investigates AI’s possible applications and limitations in preserving and overseeing astronaut health during long-duration spaceflight. As human exploration progresses deeper into space, the demand for AI-powered medical solutions becomes more critical to mission success and astronaut well-being. However, incorporating AI into space medicine significantly impacts science, religion, and society. This paper critically examines the impact of AI in space medicine on science, religion, and society domains, as well as how this technology fits within the framework of the dialogue model, which holds that science and religion may coexist and inform one another.
Impact on Science
The integration of AI in space medicine is full of promise and potential: it promises to develop scientific knowledge and push the human frontier further into exploration. AI squarely falls in place while it detects, diagnoses, and gives treatment recommendations about the varied medical issues an astronaut can face in deep space exploration missions (Waisberg et al., 2022). One of the common causes of worry during long-duration space missions is the growth of spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), presenting with symptoms of optic disc edema, globe flattening, and retinal changes (Ong et al., 2021). The medical imaging AI system, trained on the fundus image and optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the eye, will readily form an approach to help acquire a unique approach to get better perspectives for earlier detection of SANS and consistent monitoring on the orbital mission.
Besides, developing AI solutions for space-bound medicine based on such algorithmic development may find or lead the way in terrestrial medicine. It realizes potential stimuli for the knowledge of discoveries driving personalized medicine and the reinforcement of abilities in medical research work (Rosemann & Zhang, 2022). That means that space medicine carries a profound positive influence on the scientific progress of knowledge. The applications for GAN include creating synthetic medical images usable not just by the indigenous remote communities but also by millions worldwide who currently cannot afford to access special medical imaging units. As Waisberg et al. (2022) highlight, space is a uniquely austere setting for the birth of new technologies that can be put to practical translation work in service to healthcare improvement in a resource-poor context back on Earth. It may lead to a revolution in medical diagnosis and treatment in poor sentinel regions, supporting such a movement through massive global health initiatives.
Impact on Religion
The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to the practice of space medicine involves essential ethical issues regarding the religions or spiritual beliefs of astronauts. Given the fact that the capabilities of AI systems increase and they are more focused on the astronauts’ medical decision-making and treatment recommendations, conflicts of purpose between human beings and technologies arise. Specifically, Singler (2020) examines the meme of AI Creation with the goal of elucidating how this interaction between technology and spirituality has blurred the borders of what it means to be human and how AI may replace human staff in the healthcare sector and consequently bring forth new views on people’s role in health and wellness.
Furthermore, the imbalance between health missions and IoT applications is among the challenges that are raised by religious traditions that encroach on the sanctity of human lives (Waisberg et al., 2022). Usually, in the process of getting familiar with the moral agency and accountability of one’s deeds, religious teachings occur. So, it comes to the problem of pointing the finger at accusations in cases when AI systems are the cause of medical mistakes. As a case in point, if an artificial intelligence (AI) system that is supposed to be used for diagnostics is the reason why a diagnostic is wrong, or if a treatment procedure of a space mission is faulty, there may be a question of who is responsible for that outcome, the programmers, operators, or the AI system itself (Reed, 2021). This is where the line is drawn between technological advancement and ethical problems; this calls for well-constructed ethical frameworks that draw and join the religious views in the AI in space medicine discussions.
Typically, Singer (2020) touches upon the secretive AI Creation Meme that engulfs the possibility of an apocalypse in which these emergent technologies are deemed to be an extension of our life and health environments. This puts forward beliefs about human responsibility, which calls for an introspection of religious attitudes toward the duty of care and the wellness of the people. Additionally, religious traditions are frequently concerned with the questions of how a respectable human life should be structured and what function, if any, a deity plays in medical interventions. For instance, Tan (2020) shows how AI can influence spiritual education, which can cause the AI built as a Digital Confucius to be inadequate in accommodating the different learning profiles and contextual requirements of each learner. This will then develop a sense of war between AI equipment and medical workers and the religion-based theories that require human intervention in such scenarios.
Reality in Society and Culture
The reality of AI in space medicine is still in its nascent stages, but the societal and cultural implications are far-reaching. As space exploration becomes more accessible to commercial entities and space tourism gains traction, the need for reliable and robust AI systems in space medicine will increase (Waisberg et al., 2022). This could shift how we perceive and interact with medical technologies as AI systems become more integrated into our daily lives. The public perception and acceptance of AI in healthcare will be crucial in its successful implementation and adoption. Rosemann and Zhang (2022) reveal that the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare is driven by invisibility and user autonomy, many of which operate as “black box” systems with hidden methods of operation. Suppose the public considers AI as a trustworthy and dependable tool for medical decision-making. In that case, it may open the way for more widespread adoption and integration of these technologies in both space and terrestrial healthcare environments.
Additionally, the advancement of AI for space medicine may exacerbate existing disparities in healthcare access and quality. The dissemination and deployment of AI solutions in space medicine, like any other new medical technology, must be carefully monitored and regulated to avoid perpetuating current imbalances. Addressing these socioeconomic and cultural ramifications would necessitate a coordinated effort among governments, healthcare experts, and the general public to ensure that the benefits of AI in space medicine are spread equitably and do not further isolate marginalized people.
Dialogue Model
The problems and consequences of AI in space medicine are consistent with the dialogue model, which acknowledges the ability of science and religion to coexist and inform each other. Pursuing scientific knowledge through AI in space medicine can lead to a better understanding of the human condition and our role in space, consistent with religious and spiritual viewpoints on the sanctity of life and the pursuit of knowledge.
On the contrary, religious and ethical principles could provide feedback to rationales associated with developing and implementing AI in medicine. The use of these technologies will be dictated by the same principles that uphold human dignity and autonomy (Rosemann & Zhang, 2022). The dialogue model champions the establishment of communication and cooperation between medical and ethics experts, theologians, and other AI practitioners to find solutions to such problems that will benefit humanity. Hence, religious views on altruism and efforts to dull down suffering can be used as a guide to developing and implementing AI systems that will improve the health and crew wellness of astronauts expected to undertake extended space explorations that may take days, weeks, or months.
In fact, along with it, the dialogue model assumes the joint ground of sensitivity to the overlap between sciences and religions and their complementariness in understanding phenomena that are not always simple. With space medicine AI in the background, the religions that acknowledge all life in the universe as having a connection with each other and care for the natural creation can offer valuable wisdom on how responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence should be as a tool to explore the space and maintain the unique environment (Waisberg et al., 2022). The dialog model makes the basis for the process of mutual understanding between science and religion, preserving their limits and achievements and thus laying down the groundwork for a collaborative approach to the issues and advances of space medicine’s Artificial intelligence.
Conclusion
The article “Challenges of artificial intelligence in space medicine” by Waisberg et al. (2022) reveals AI’s potential application and challenges used to control and monitor the astronaut’s health during long flights. This technology impacts science, religion, and society, which are wide-ranging, and considerations of ethics, scientific achievement, and perceptions of medical devices are just a few areas where repercussions are felt. We can reach the objective of such a complex issue as AI in space medicine by applying a dialogue model and acknowledging the possibility of their coexistence and mutual help. In such a way, we can be sure that these breakthroughs will be helpful to human society. As we continue our journey of space exploration and establishment of human presence in space, the responsible and ethical development of AI in space medicine will assume a crucial role in the safety of astronauts and ultimately in the advancement of our understanding of the human factor in the unique environment of space travel.
References
Ong, J., Lee, A. G., & Moss, H. E. (2021). Head-down tilt bed rest studies as a terrestrial analog for spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome. Frontiers in Neurology, 12, 648958. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2021.648958
Reed, R. (2021). AI in Religion, AI for Religion, AI and Religion: Towards a theory of religious studies and artificial intelligence. Religions, 12(6), 401. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12060401
Rosemann, A., & Zhang, X. (2022). Exploring the social, ethical, legal, and responsibility dimensions of artificial intelligence for health-a new column in Intelligent Medicine. Intelligent Medicine, 2(02), 103–109.
Singler, B. (2020). The AI creation meme: A case study of the new visibility of religion in artificial intelligence discourse. Religions, 11(5), 253.https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11050253
Tan, C. (2020). Digital Confucius? Exploring the implications of artificial intelligence in spiritual education. Connection science, 32(3), 280-291.https://doi.org/10.1080/09540091.2019.1709045
Waisberg, E., Ong, J., Paladugu, P., Kamran, S. A., Zaman, N., Lee, A. G., & Tavakkoli, A. (2022). Challenges of artificial intelligence in space medicine. Space: Science & Technology. DOI: 10.34133/2022/9852872
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