from Hacker News

Would you trust AI to scan your genitals for STIs?

by arkadiyt on 9/8/24, 6:17 PM with 19 comments

  • by simple10 on 9/8/24, 7:55 PM

    Depends on the company and compliance behind the app. If it's HIPAA certified, I would trust it as much as a tele health app that stores images or videos sent to a doctor. If I trust the security of my medical records with the app, then I personally wouldn't mind if AI was involved in the pipeline.

    For context, I'm currently working on a HIPAA compliant app that uses AI to collect medical background info, then connects the user with an actual human doctor. To get HIPAA certified, the app code, infrastructure, and LLMs all need to be certified, using enterprise accounts with signed BAAs (contracts) that isolate PII and medical data. This prevents the medical data from being used as training data for the LLM.

    HIPAA is not a foolproof system, but it's a crucial piece in the trust puzzle. I wouldn't trust an AI medical app without HIPAA certification. The chance of data leaking out through the LLM or hacks is too high without HIPAA.

  • by jarule on 9/8/24, 8:18 PM

    Delano recommends trans folks try different options and go with what works best for their body

    Self-identified woman submits her dick pic.

    AI: Massive tumor detected. Seek immediate medical help.

  • by troupo on 9/8/24, 6:45 PM

    I don't trust the companies that would run that AI.

  • by wizzwizz4 on 9/8/24, 6:51 PM

    If it's made by BRAIN Co., then yes. They're the only group I've seen actually putting out image classification systems that work for reasons.

    I wouldn't trust the state-of-the-art "machine learning" classifier, and the app described in the article certainly isn't state-of-the-art.

  • by johnea on 9/8/24, 7:10 PM

    I'm highly LLM/AI skeptical.

    But an image analysis application like this is exactly what the tech is good at.

    I also highly agree with the skeptisism regarding the companies selling the products. I would want this used along with a Dr's diagnosis, as an additional tool.

  • by yieldcrv on 9/8/24, 8:02 PM

    If it worked and was administered by me or a HIPAA compliant organization, yes.

    But since visual analysis doesn't work for almost any STIs, and is intended to be used by uneducated partners that believe a visual inspection would protect them, then no.

  • by JohnFen on 9/9/24, 4:50 PM

    Not even a little. I wouldn't trust the accuracy of the diagnosis, and I would trust the confidentiality even less.

  • by ARandomerDude on 9/8/24, 6:52 PM

    Seems like it would be much easier to just get married than to worry about things like this for the rest of your life.

  • by InfiniteRand on 9/8/24, 7:39 PM

    As long as I can go to a doctor for a second opinion, yeah probably (well, if I was having casual sex)

  • by ein0p on 9/8/24, 7:02 PM

    Why not, if it’s effective? Beats the heck out of waiting for weeks for a doctor.

  • by throw310822 on 9/8/24, 9:15 PM

    Ehr, you mean software? Sure. As long as it's not controlling a robot arm with metal claws. I fear a robocop situation.

  • by echlebek on 9/8/24, 6:47 PM

    Hahahahaha. No.