- In The Loop AI
- Posts
- AI to predict cancer outcomes
AI to predict cancer outcomes
ALSO: Microsoft bans employee use of DeepSeek
Algot Persson
May 09, 2025
In partnership with
In Today’s Issue (no fluff):
AI to predict cancer outcomes
Microsoft bans employee use of DeepSeek
Read time: 3 minutes
AI to predict cancer outcomes
FaceAge Tool
Scientists have developed an AI tool called FaceAge that analyzes facial photos to predict cancer patient survival, sometimes more accurately than doctors. The deep learning algorithm estimates biological age, and researchers found that cancer patients typically looked five years older than their actual age.
The study, published in Lancet Digital Health, adds to growing efforts to use ageing estimates as biomarkers for disease. “A selfie can contain key clinical information,” said Hugo Aerts, co-senior author and AI director at Mass General Brigham. Patients whose FaceAge was younger than their real age had significantly better outcomes after therapy.
Trained on nearly 59,000 images of healthy individuals, FaceAge was tested on over 6,000 cancer patients using photos from the start of radiotherapy. Those with higher FaceAges had worse survival odds, even after adjusting for age, sex, and cancer type, especially those appearing older than 85.
In a second test, 10 clinicians predicted six-month survival in palliative cancer patients using only photos. Accuracy was 61%, but rose to 80% when aided by FaceAge analysis.
The researchers noted potential limitations, such as data biases and AI misreadings. They’re now expanding the study to other patients and exploring its use in predicting overall health and lifespan.
Get the tools, gain a teammate
Impress clients with online proposals, contracts, and payments.
Simplify your workload, workflow, and workweek with AI.
Get the behind-the-scenes business partner you deserve.
Microsoft bans employee use of DeepSeek
Satya Nadella
Microsoft employees are officially barred from using the DeepSeek app, according to company president Brad Smith, who spoke at a Senate hearing on Thursday. Smith said the decision stems from concerns that DeepSeek stores user data on Chinese servers and may promote state-influenced content. “We don’t allow our employees to use the DeepSeek app,” he said, adding that it’s also excluded from Microsoft’s app store.
While other groups have quietly restricted DeepSeek, this marks the first time Microsoft has publicly confirmed a ban.
Interestingly, Microsoft still offers DeepSeek’s R1 model on Azure. But Smith noted that Microsoft had “changed” the model to reduce risks before making it available, though exactly how wasn’t detailed.
DeepSeek’s open-source nature means anyone can host the model independently, bypassing Chinese servers. Still, Microsoft seems wary of its potential for bias or unsafe outputs. Though DeepSeek competes with Microsoft’s own Copilot, other rivals like Perplexity remain available in the Windows Store. Apps from Google? Not so much.
How was today's newsletter? |
Reply