Telefónica's technology subsidiary aims to expand its business in the health sector by leveraging the potential of artificial intelligence. The collaboration with Harrison.ai will enable the Spanish market to offer an AI tool that assists healthcare professionals in interpreting chest X-rays.
This solution incorporates an algorithm capable of analyzing up to 124 clinical findings, including pulmonary nodules for early detection of lung cancer and other critical pathologies. The AI system has been trained on over 780,000 X-ray studies, validated by qualified radiologists, ensuring high levels of reliability.
The technology integrates easily into existing healthcare infrastructures, thanks to the AI and data expert services from Telefónica Tech. The algorithm holds CE IIb certification, the highest guarantee standard for diagnostic support in the European Union.
Carlos Martínez, Director of Data and AI at Telefónica Tech, highlighted that AI in radiology represents a significant advancement towards more effective healthcare models, offering faster, more accurate, and personalized care. He noted that the solution is already being offered to several regional health services.
The tool acts as support, but the final decision on diagnosis and treatment rests with the healthcare professional. Emergency and Primary Care services will be able to view AI-generated diagnoses via a web viewer, which could reduce unnecessary referrals.
Aengus Tran, CEO and co-founder of Harrison.ai, stated that Telefónica's reach in Spain will help reduce the healthcare capacity gap, assisting in the early detection of diseases like lung cancer and prioritizing urgent cases.
Telefónica has already implemented other AI solutions in the healthcare sector, including the diagnosis of imaging and dermatological tests, as well as genomics projects for preventive medicine and voice analysis to detect loneliness and emotional well-being.
Furthermore, the company is working on developing secure data spaces for the healthcare sector and offers solutions with AI agents to optimize bureaucratic processes and automate routine tasks such as appointment management.
