Summary

  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Biden’s appointed chair of the US Vaccine Safety and Scientific Integrity Commission, has adopted a pro-AI stance during his recent candidacy for the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
  • Kennedy has outlined the HHS’s “AI revolution”, arguing that algorithms can be trusted more than scientific experts when it comes to testing medicines and approving drugs.
  • He also stated that AI technology will rapidly accelerate the drug approval process at the FDA.
  • However, concerns are growing about his plans for the current Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), which is set to be overhauled and fitted with AI.
  • While the technology may have some benefits, such as streamlining the VAERS claims process, there is a risk that it could lead to misinterpretation of VAERS data, which could sow further distrust in public health.
  • There are also concerns that if filled with misleading or false information, an AI system could simply validate these beliefs.

By Lauren Leffer

Original Article