AI03 Steps Towards Safely Deploying the World’s First Autonomous Artificial Intelligence as a Medical Device for Skin Cancer into a National Health Service Teledermatology Pathway

In December 2024, an autonomous artificial intelligence as a medical device (AIaMD) was successfully integrated into the NHS's urgent skin cancer pathway, marking a significant advancement in teledermatology. Over 10,737 cases have been assessed since its launch, with the AIaMD achieving a sensitivity of 97.3% for all skin cancers and a benign specificity of 74.0%. The AIaMD's deployment involved over 135,000 NHS patients, consistently meeting or exceeding sensitivity targets. The system's development was supported by real-world patient data, ensuring improvements reflect its intended use. Efforts were made to address health inequities, particularly for individuals with darker skin types, by routing them to a consultant dermatologist for a second opinion. The transition to an autonomous AI pathway has increased capacity for urgent cancer and routine dermatology services within the trust.