Your doctor's AI might be making things up
Here's the thing about Peterborough, we've always been a place where invention and practicality flow together. From the Lift Lock to our electric lights, we appreciate good engineering. But I saw something ripple through the provincial news this morning that had me thinking about that current, and how sometimes, even the smartest systems can hit a snag. Ontario's auditor general found that AI note-taking tools, the ones meant to help doctors here in Peterborough and across the province, were "hallucinating" – making up information, leaving things out.
It's a big deal. Imagine sitting in a clinic over by the hospital on Charlotte Street, talking through your symptoms, and a digital brain is just…filling in the blanks with its own version of reality. The report says these tools weren't even properly evaluated before they started showing up. We trust our doctors, and part of that trust extends to the tools they use. When those tools aren't reliable, it could dam up the flow of accurate information, and that's not good for anyone's health journey.
### What This Means for Us
* **Trust in Care:** It makes you wonder about the notes being taken, doesn't it? Accuracy is paramount, especially when it comes to your health. * **The Human Element:** It's a reminder that while technology can be a powerful current, the human touch, the critical eye of a doctor or nurse, is still irreplaceable. * **Local Impact:** This isn't some distant problem; it could affect anyone seeing a doctor right here in Peterborough, whether you're at a clinic downtown or up near Trent.
This is the Electric City — small town, big current. Let's go.
Mornings on MiTL really get into the deeper currents of these stories – you can always catch them live at mornings.live.