New AI Tool Spots Heart Disease in Under Two Seconds

Doctors in the United Kingdom are testing a powerful new tool that could change how heart disease is found. The tool uses artificial intelligence, or AI, to study heart scans. It can look at an image and give a result in less than two seconds. Researchers call the technology "superhuman" because no human doctor can work that fast. The tool was built by a team of scientists and cardiologists who wanted to make heart checks quicker and easier. Now, hospitals in London are using it in real medical settings to see how well it performs outside the laboratory.

The AI system works by studying medical images of a patient's heart, such as MRI scans. It searches for early signs of serious problems, including blocked arteries, weak heart muscles, and unusual heart rhythms. In tests, the tool matched the accuracy of experienced cardiologists, and in some cases, it performed even better. Unlike tired doctors after a long shift, the AI never gets exhausted, and it gives the same careful answer every time. Scientists say this kind of consistency could help catch diseases that are easy to miss with the human eye alone.

The National Health Service, known as the NHS, hopes this tool can ease its long waiting lists. At the moment, around 400,000 patients across the country are waiting for a heart scan. Doctors explain that a faster diagnosis often leads to faster treatment, and that can save lives in serious cases. If the current trial continues to succeed, more hospitals could start using the AI tool within the next few years. Experts believe this technology will support doctors, not replace them, by giving them extra time to focus on patient care.