A groundbreaking UK trial has revealed that artificial intelligence can detect fetal abnormalities nearly twice as fast as traditional methods—without sacrificing accuracy.
The study, involving 78 pregnant women and 58 sonographers, focused on identifying heart defects during 20-week scans. Researchers noted, however, that the AI tool could potentially spot a wide range of fetal conditions.
Compared to human sonographers, the AI system proved to be 42% faster when measuring fetal growth. It also eliminated the need for technicians to pause and manually record each measurement, allowing for smoother, more efficient scans.
“AI-assisted scans are not only accurate and reliable, but they also save time,” said lead researcher Thomas Day from King’s College London in an AFP report. “This means sonographers can concentrate more on patient care, making the process more comfortable for expectant parents.”
For expectant mother Ashleigh Louison, the AI-powered scan detected her baby’s heart condition early, allowing her and her doctors to prepare accordingly. “It gave us clarity when we needed it most,” she shared.
The trial, conducted by King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, has prompted a wider rollout of the AI tool across several London hospitals.
