A Microscope To Identify Cancer? Google And Department Of Defense Team Up For AI-Powered Microscope

The Department of Defense has joined forces with Alphabet Inc's GOOG GOOGL Google to build an Artificial Intelligence-powered microscope to help doctors identify cancer.

The technology, known as an Augmented Reality Microscope (ARM), is still in its early stages and not yet actively employed for patient diagnoses, but preliminary research shows promise.

Currently, there are 13 ARMs, one located at a Mitre facility just outside Washington, D.C. Mitre, a nonprofit organization working with government agencies on technological challenges, is researching the ARM's potential vulnerabilities in clinical settings.

Experts anticipate that the ARM will support doctors in smaller laboratories grappling with workforce shortages and increasing workloads.

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At first glance, the ARM resembles a standard microscope found in high school biology classrooms. It features a beige design with a sizable eyepiece and a slide tray for traditional glass slides.

However, it is also linked to a robust computer tower housing AI models.

When a prepared glass slide is placed under the microscope, the AI can outline the cancer's location, displaying it as a vivid green line visible through the eyepiece and on a separate monitor. 

The AI also assesses the cancer's severity, generating a black-and-white heat map on the monitor that delineates the cancer's boundaries in a pixelated format.

Citing officials, CNBC notes that the technology could become an invaluable resource for pathologists without easy access to second opinions.

The typical cost of an ARM for healthcare systems ranges from $90,000 to $100,000. 

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) of the Department of Defense, recognizing the potential of this technology, sought commercial partners to develop and test the ARM. 

They selected Jenoptik for the hardware and Google for the software, with Google ensuring the privacy and security of the data used in training the AI models.