Medical ethicist Alena Buyx: The limits of AI in care

Many people know her from talk shows and press conferences on television during the coronavirus pandemic: Alena Buyx, Professor of Ethics in Medicine and Health Technologies and Director of the Institute for the History and Ethics of Medicine (IGEM) at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Chair of the German Ethics Council from 2020 to 2024. Since April 2024, she has been a member of the German Federal Government's Expert Council on Health and Resilience. In this interview, she talks about the pressure on the solidarity society, the challenges in the healthcare system and the limits of AI in the care sector.

Mrs Buyx, you were a speaker at the opening event of the anniversary ConSocial. What do you think of this year's motto ‘Strengthening diversity - living solidarity - shaping change’?

The motto is in line with a very important thesis of solidarity research, namely that diversity and solidarity can go very well together. People who are very different come together in the social professions. We already live diversity there. And in turn provide for people who can also be very different. And solidarity means that - although you may be different in religious, cultural or social terms - you still come together and create something together because you feel committed to a common idea and a common ideal. And that's what people in the social professions do.

But at the same time, we can also see that this solidarity is definitely coming under pressure these days. The external conditions are becoming increasingly difficult and we are also dealing with social polarisation phenomena that tend to emphasise the differences between us. That's why I think it's wonderful that ConSozial 2024 has chosen this motto. Because I believe it is essential that we shape the social change that we are all going through together in such a way that solidarity can flourish. I am also very pleased that I was able to be there in Nuremberg and make a small contribution to the success of this trade fair.

Since the coronavirus at the latest, you have been known to a broad public, in demand and a popular voice in questions of medical ethics. What does it deal with?

Medical ethics is a scientific discipline that deals with questions of good and right behaviour in medicine and healthcare.

You probably know the ailing healthcare system in Germany better than almost anyone else due to your expertise from different perspectives. Where do you see potential for improvement or real solutions?

There are many wonderful solutions in our healthcare system, they are just sometimes not sufficiently well networked. Demographic change and the shortage of skilled labour will pose particular challenges in the future. That's why it's important to develop solutions together that utilise all the potential offered by new technologies, that bring together the many good ideas that already exist even better and that contribute to making the healthcare system more resilient.

The care sector in particular is facing a crucial test. AI is seen here as a promise of salvation and was also the subject of your presentation. What do you think AI should be allowed to do and where should we be more careful?

Artificial intelligence has the potential to at least partially take over recurring administrative tasks in particular, thereby relieving the burden on carers. We should give the AI what is tiring, annoying and also a little repetitive. We should not let AI into the core area of nursing work. Where there is a human relationship between patient and carer, it should remain human. AI can only ever be an aid and a tool.

Finally, what do you wish ConSozial for the next 25 years?

I wish ConSozial further successful, inspiring and innovative impulses for the next 25 years!

Thank you very much for the interview!