Must-Know AI Jargon
for Medical Professionals
A comprehensive guide to artificial intelligence terminology with practical medical examples
| AI Term | Definition | Medical Example |
|---|---|---|
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Core Concept | Simulating human intelligence using machines | Chatbots answering patient queries 24/7 |
Machine Learning (ML) Technique | Algorithms that learn patterns from data without being explicitly programmed | Predicting hospital readmission based on EHR data |
Deep Learning (DL) Advanced | Subset of ML using neural networks with many layers | Identifying diabetic retinopathy from retinal images |
Neural Network Architecture | A series of algorithms mimicking the human brain | Classifying ECG signals as normal or abnormal |
Natural Language Processing (NLP) Technique | Understanding and generating human language by machines | Extracting symptoms from free-text clinical notes |
Large Language Model (LLM) Core Technology | A type of NLP model trained on large text datasets | Summarizing lengthy medical literature or guidelines |
Supervised Learning Technique | ML with labeled data | Training a model to detect pneumonia using chest X-rays labeled by radiologists |
Unsupervised Learning Technique | ML with unlabeled data | Discovering unknown disease subtypes from genetic data |
Reinforcement Learning Technique | Learning via trial-and-error to maximize reward | Optimizing personalized drug dosage in ICU settings |
Overfitting Challenge | Model performs well on training data but poorly on new data | AI model diagnoses rare disease well in training set but fails on real patients |
Bias Challenge | Systematic error due to non-representative data | Model underperforms on minority populations due to training data imbalance |
Explainability Approach | Ability to understand AI model's decision-making | Showing which clinical features led to a sepsis alert |
Synthetic Data Approach | Artificially generated data that mimics real patient data | Generating realistic but fake EHRs for AI training without privacy risks |
13 AI termsFor medical professionals