Artificial intelligence use for ambulance calls a concern to paramedics, says association head – CBC

Ambulance N.B. says paramedics will still have radio system as backup

Jan 17, 2023

Artificial intelligence now plays a role in how paramedics get dispatched to emergency calls in New Brunswick, and that has many of them concerned about possible hiccups and delays, says the head of the association representing them.

Ambulance New Brunswick last Monday rolled out what it calls a computer-aided dispatch system, which relies on AI and cellular devices to notify paramedics of emergency calls they’re being dispatched to.

It’s a system that’s causing unease and concern among paramedics over the possibility for glitches and malfunctions that could come up in already stressful life and death situations, said Derek Cassista, president of the Paramedics Association of New Brunswick.

“You can tell your phone, ‘Hey Siri, take me to A&W’, and I’m sure you’ve had times where that navigation fails or it takes you [on] what you know is the long way around when you think it’s the short way around.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/paramedic-ambulance-dispatch-new-brunswick-1.6715538