Google and NASA are collaborating on an AI-powered medical assistant to support astronauts on long-duration missions where real-time communication with Earth is not possible. The 'Crew Medical Officer Digital Assistant' (CMO-DA) is designed to diagnose medical conditions, analyse symptoms, and recommend treatments autonomously.
The AI uses natural language processing and machine learning, drawing from spaceflight literature to provide real-time health analysis. It has been trained using data covering common medical issues encountered in space. Early trials show promising diagnostic accuracy. The system is designed to support, not replace, human experts, assisting in decision-making during health incidents.
CMO-DA is built on Google Cloud's Vertex AI platform. Future versions aim to account for the effects of microgravity and integrate data from onboard devices. This technology has potential applications beyond space, offering possibilities for delivering quality medical care in remote areas on Earth.
