Applying Language Models in Clinical Medicine: Recent Trends and Perspectives

Erik Aerts

The use and applicability of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical research and clinical practice has received increasing attention in the literature over recent years. The emergence of large language models (LLMs) has expanded discussions in regards to applications of AI within healthcare. While traditional deep learning based AI applications in medicine have often focused on specific and defined tasks, LLMs offer broader capabilities and flexibility in working with available data,. At the same time of writing, the integration of LLMs into medical settings raises important questions regarding their reliability, accuracy, transparency, safety, and appropriate role in a medical setting. This text presents and discusses recent talks and articles concerning the application of LLMs in medicine, with particular emphasis on their potential utility in research and clinical practice. It considers both the opportunities offered by these technologies and the challenges associated with their implementation, aiming to provide a perspective on the current and emerging role of LLMs within the medical field.