In 2024, nearly 7 million people in the United States were living with Alzheimer’s disease. By 2050, this figure is expected to double. This is a daunting prospect that we can collectively try to ignore in the hope that it never comes to pass. However, as humanity’s brightest minds search for solutions, science has an ace up its sleeve: artificial intelligence.
In February, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) published a paper in Natural aging detailing their efforts and successes in using AI to help identify the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
As Marina Sirota, doctoral student tell Laptop charger“In this study, we leverage and apply AI to clinical data and build machine learning models to identify patients at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. We further explore the predictive clinical characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease. “onset of disease by focusing on gender differences.”
Their model is accurate enough to predict an Alzheimer’s diagnosis up to seven years before the onset of the disease with an accuracy of 72 percent. With an early warning like this, doctors could anticipate symptoms well in advance, allowing Alzheimer’s patients to live longer and better lives.
But the researchers’ work does not stop there. Sirota tells Laptop charger that the next step in this process is “further validation and implementation of the models in an independent clinical system and the exploration of MS4A6A as a therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease and osteoporosis.”
In short, it is time to see if this study holds up in a real clinical setting and in an exploration of the MS4A6A gene in the search for better treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and osteoporosis.
This is an incredible achievement for science and a great example of the effectiveness of using technology in the right hands. As Sirota tells it Laptop charger“This study would not be possible without the use of AI.”
AI for good: breakthroughs in energy, life-saving medicine and beyond
ChatGPT is probably the first thing that comes to mind when most people think of AI, but it’s only a small part of what artificial intelligence has to offer. While many of us use it to generate funny images or summarize emails, researchers around the world are using AI to make groundbreaking discoveries, solve general problems, and save lives.
This year has seen a slew of AI-driven breakthroughs in science, technology and medicine. From securing fusion energy systems to creating the most complex images of the human brain to date, these advances mark the beginning of a new era of scientific discovery and progress, now powered by AI.
A study led by researchers at UCSF and the University of Michigan and published in Nature in November, introduced an AI tool to help surgeons identify invisible cancerous tissue during brain tumor surgeries. Cancerous brain tumors can come back after surgery if even a tiny part of the affected tissue is left. So a tool like this could have a monumental impact on the lives of countless people in the future.
The UCSF and University of Michigan researchers found that their AI tool only missed cancer tissue 3.8% of the time (compared to 24% using conventional methods without AI assistance ). This means that this tool can successfully detect 96.2% of cancerous brain tissue.
Google also applied AI to brain research this year, in collaboration with Harvard University and the Lichtman lab. In May, Google released a “Neuroglancer” image gallery showing the inner workings of the human brain in incredible detail.
The images were built using AI as part of a larger project. effort to create interactive 3D model of the brain. Research like this could help doctors and researchers better understand how the brain works, which can be useful in everything from technology to medicine and even psychology.
Medicine is not the only niche benefiting from AI-based research. In February, a team of researchers from Princeton University and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory unveiled a major breakthrough in their fusion power research, the results of which were published in Nature.
The team trained an AI model to predict plasma instabilities in fusion reactions up to 300 milliseconds in advance. This may not seem like much, but it gives the AI enough time to react and prevent these pesky instabilities.
This is a major breakthrough because it could solve one of the biggest challenges facing fusion energy, which has the potential to become a clean energy source that could change the world. Fusion reactions are difficult to control, however, and that’s where AI-based solutions, like the tactic developed by the Princeton team, come in.
Is AI the key to the mysteries of science?
These advances are just a small glimpse of the incredible wave of AI-based research and advancements starting in 2024.
As AI developers release ever more advanced models with capabilities that extend further into the realm of science fiction, we could see even more revolutionary advances in science and medicine thanks to to AI.
We’ve already seen some of these benefits, as 2024 has also seen AI move from data to real-world problems.
In July, the first fully automated dental procedure was carried out by AI using advanced imaging and robotics.
In November, AI was the key to a breakthrough in ophthalmology that allowed a woman, legally blind and without glasses, to seek treatment. sight restored beyond 20/20 vision.
These advances paint a bright future with faster, more affordable and more easily accessible healthcare, with AI capable of assisting medical staff in diagnosing and treating patients. Looking ahead, 2025 could be a year filled with similar advancements, achievable only through the adoption and availability of AI.
If you’re an AI enthusiast or average AI tinkerer (or just looking for some of the extra features offered by Windows Copilot+ PCs or Apple Intelligence on Macs), you’ll need a powerful, capable laptop to keep up the rhythm. quickly to your needs.
HAS Laptop chargerWe review laptops throughout the year to ensure we provide you with up-to-date, expert-backed recommendations on which laptop is best for you. When it comes to best AI PC In this category, our top picks are the excellent Asus Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) for Windows users and the impressive Apple Macbook Air M3 for those using macOS.
So if you’re shopping for a new laptop and looking to invest in an AI PC (or just a great laptop in general), check out our current top picks below.
The Asus Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) has quickly become our favorite AI PC laptop of the year, offering all the features of a good buy, including exceptional performance and battery life. This laptop is one of the first to feature an Intel Core Ultra 200V processor and at just $1,499 (MSRP) you get a fantastic balance of power, a stunning 14-inch OLED display, effortless multitasking and NPU-enhanced performance for AI tasks. , and all the additional Copilot+ features available with Windows 11.
We love the MacBook Air 13 M3. Starting at just $1,099 (MSRP), with the education price dropping to $999 (MSRP), the Air is a laptop we can recommend for just about any use. It’s affordable, especially by Apple standards, and has a great keyboard, fantastic performance, and exceptional endurance (over 15 hours of battery life), making it a great laptop for almost anyone. needs, especially those who want to get up to speed with all the latest Apple Intelligence features.