We're entering a new era of healthcare. AI can sift through vast amounts of data and knowledge in a way that's not possible for a human brain. Already, IBM's supercomputer Watson can draw on troves of data and patient records to provide personalized recommendations on treatment in seconds.

A robot-scientist developed by Ross King, professor of machine intelligence at the University of Manchester, can screen over 10,000 compounds a day in the search for new drugs to beat tropical diseases. Professor King predicts, "Biological systems are so complex that humans cannot understand them without help from computers. I believe that most diseases will be treatable, if not cured, in the next 50–100 years."

Smart technology will also give us more personalized, democratic health systems. "AI will make healthcare unrecognizable in the next ten years," declares British-based engineer and entrepreneur Dr Ali Parsa. For £7.99 a month, his smartphone app Babylon enables subscribers to text simple queries and have virtual consultations. Users can add fitness monitors and if they show stress and high blood pressure, for instance, a doctor can proactively make contact.

"I don’t believe AI will replace doctors," says Dr Parsa, "but it can play a crucial role in assisting with simpler queries, giving doctors more time to focus on complex conditions and patients that need a greater level of care."