Answer Digital partners with Lunit and AZmed for speedy AI deployments

Answer Digital has formed a strategic partnership with Lunit and AZmed that will help support AI deployment at scale in the NHS, allowing them to implement AI models in days.

Lunit and AZmed are the two latest model developers to have integrated with Answer Digital’s technology. Answer Digital, who won the Artificial Intelligence Project of the Year award at the UK IT Industry Awards 2023, uses open source deployment technology, developed with the Medical Open network for AI community. It enables healthcare organisations to evaluate and implement tried and tested clinical AI models from leading model vendors and integrate them directly into their clinical workflows in just days.

This open approach also means that healthcare providers are not locked into a single vendor. NHS trusts can complete a single installation of its deployment technology to open up access to multiple AI models quickly and safely.

Michael Measures, director of technology at Answer Digital, said: “By taking an open approach, the same methodology can be used for every future AI deployment. This means that when other forms of AI mature, such as in pathology or genomics, we can use the same approach and help healthcare providers to accelerate their AI maturity more quickly.

“AI in healthcare is moving fast, and healthcare providers shouldn’t have to take unnecessary risks, commit disproportionate budgets, or spend unnecessary time to begin to realise the benefits of AI.”

With multiple clinical AI models available in one place, NHS trusts can accelerate their adoption of the technology as well as address operational issues, such as the capacity challenges in radiology services.

Beomseok Brandon Suh, CEO at Lunit, said: “We’ve been able to move from theoretical applications of AI in the NHS to the practical. Working with Answer has made the process simple and accessible, with minimal disruption to workflows. They understand that trusts and imaging networks need results now, and they consistently deliver as an integration partner.”

Answer Digital first developed the deployment technology and methodology as part of the Medical Open Network for AI community, and they were the foundations for the AI Centre for Value Based Care’s AIDE platform. This was then commissioned to deploy clinical AI solutions by eight London NHS trusts, including Kings College NHS Foundation Trust and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.