The Virtual You

I have written about digital twins over the past year and participated in several articles describing a future where virtual representations of all things physical are viable. You can explore the topic here. The art of the possible is coming into focus.

This worldwide effort to create virtual cells, tissues, and organs is revolutionary because modern medicine is largely backwards facing: Currently, doctors try to figure out what is the best treatment for their patients by assessing past clinical trials on subjects who are a bit like their present patients, in similar but not identical circumstances. In coming decades, though, doctors will be able to use digital twins-which see the exchange of data and insights between a real and virtual human-to better predict what lies in store for patients, helping what is mostly a one-size-fits-all approach evolve into one that is truly predictive and personalized.

PETER COVENEY AND ROGER HIGHFIELD — Why Some Scientists Believe the Future of Medicine Lies in Creating Digital Twins

That quote from a recent article speaks volumes about the opportunity space. While our digital twin will clearly advance our health and wellness, it has the potential to do so much more. Starting with health, a digital twin becomes an adviser across multiple aspects of our lives. For example:

• Personalized healthcare: A digital twin driven by AI could be used to monitor an individual’s health and predict potential health issues. With access to data from an individual’s digital twin, healthcare professionals could provide personalized healthcare recommendations and treatments.
• Early identification of developmental delays: A digital twin driven by AI could help identify developmental delays in children at an early age, allowing for early intervention and support.
• Education and skill development: A digital twin driven by AI could be used to simulate different environments and situations, allowing individuals to practice skills and gain experience in a safe and controlled environment. AI could also provide personalized learning experiences tailored to an individual’s unique learning style and abilities.
• Personalized product and service recommendations: A digital twin driven by AI could track an individual’s behavior, preferences, and interests, providing personalized product and service recommendations.
• Improved decision-making: A digital twin driven by AI could help individuals make better decisions by analyzing data and providing insights and recommendations based on their unique needs and preferences.
• Improved mental health support: A digital twin driven by AI could monitor an individual’s emotional state and provide personalized mental health support, including early identification of mental health issues and access to appropriate resources and treatments.

These are early days, and this list will grow considerably — some early food for thought.

Originally published at http://frankdiana.net on April 10, 2023.