Artificial intelligence is making waves in the field of breast-screening, with one U.S. program showing remarkable results. Women who chose AI-enhanced scans saw a 21% higher likelihood of cancer detection. DeepHealth, a radiology firm, presented these findings at the RSNA annual meeting. They analyzed 747,604 women's mammography screenings over 12 months. The overall cancer detection rate was 43% higher for those in the program. Some women also used FDA-compliant AI software at their own expense to assist radiologists in spotting anomalies.

Unraveling the Impact of AI in Breast-Screening

The Role of Selection Bias

The findings suggest that 22% of the cancer detection increase might be due to higher-risk patients enrolling first, indicating potential selection bias. This highlights the need for careful consideration when evaluating the benefits of AI in breast-screening. It shows that simply looking at the overall numbers may not tell the whole story.

For example, if only those with a higher risk of cancer are more likely to choose the AI-enhanced scans, it could skew the results. This aspect needs to be taken into account when assessing the true value of AI in mammography.

The Contribution of AI in Driving Recall Rates

The remaining 21% of the cancer detection increase was attributed to the use of AI in driving recall rates for additional imaging. This demonstrates the significant role that AI can play in identifying potential issues that might otherwise be overlooked.

By providing a "second set of eyes," AI helps radiologists focus on areas that require further examination. This not only leads to more accurate cancer detections but also potentially saves lives by catching cancers at an earlier stage.

The Need for Randomized Controlled Trials

Despite the promising initial results, the research is far from conclusive. The researchers are now working on randomized controlled trials to better quantify the benefits of AI in this context.

This is a crucial step as it will provide more reliable data and help determine the true impact of AI on breast-screening. Without such trials, it will be difficult to make definitive claims about the effectiveness of AI in this field.

Bitcoin witnessed a remarkable surge during the past month, rocketing up by nearly 40% within a few short weeks. The leading cryptocurrency is now approaching the six-figure price mark, bringing joy to investors. Just like in many previous runs over the past seven years, Bitcoin seems to be the driving force behind the upward trend, with other coins such as Solana and Cardano also experiencing a boost in price, mirroring Bitcoin's own success.

One of the Most Intriguing Altcoins - XRP

XRP's Aim at the Banking Industry

XRP serves as the token used by RippleNet, a payment network designed to facilitate seamless money transfers between banks and financial institutions worldwide. It combines the functions of a global settlement system, currency exchange, and remittance network. Traditional payment methods often come with high costs and slow processing times. However, by leveraging XRP and RippleNet, these institutions can achieve significant savings in both time and money, thereby enhancing customer service.Some institutions have already adopted XRP, and it has a proven track record. The network is incredibly fast, extremely cost-effective, and can handle a large volume of transactions without slowing down. In the crypto world, this refers to its scalability. Compared to Bitcoin, XRP stands out in these aspects.XRP's proponents firmly believe that its real-world commercial applications give it inherent value.

But There Are Complications

At first glance, the pitch for XRP seems highly logical. The banking industry pays billions of dollars in fees each year, with approximately $193 billion in 2023. If XRP were to become the standard, it could capture a significant portion of this value. However, there are several issues. Firstly, the primary reason for banks to take on the risk of transitioning away from a proven standard is to achieve substantial cost savings. Therefore, even if the entire industry were to switch, the revenue generated would likely be a fraction of the $193 billion.An even more fundamental problem is that XRP does not necessarily need to be adopted for banks to utilize RippleNet. While some specific functions require XRP, the majority of RippleNet's features can be operated using regular currency.

XRP Faces Less Regulatory Pressure

For years, one of the major factors affecting XRP's value was its ongoing legal battle with the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding its classification. The regulator sued XRP for allegedly facilitating an "unregistered digital asset securities offering." Fortunately, the courts recently ruled in XRP's favor. Additionally, the SEC's tough-on-crypto chairman, Gary Gensler, has announced his intention to step down in January. It is expected that Trump will nominate a more crypto-friendly replacement.This development has undoubtedly contributed to XRP's recent price explosion, but the question remains: is it sufficient?

Evaluating XRP as a Millionaire Maker

Before determining whether XRP is a millionaire maker, we need to define this term clearly as it is somewhat ambiguous. For the purpose of this article, let's assume that it would need to turn a $10,000 investment into $1,000,000 in 30 years. I understand that this may not be as thrilling as achieving the same in five years, but our goal is to build a diversified portfolio for the long term rather than seeking quick riches.Considering inflation, $1 million in 30 years is equivalent to only about $300,000 today. To be a true millionaire maker by today's standards, XRP would need to turn our $10,000 investment into $3.3 million, which is a challenging task.For XRP to achieve this, it would need to increase from its current price of $2.7 to $891, representing a staggering 33,000% return. Over 30 years, this translates to an annual growth rate of 21.3%, which is more than double the historical average of the stock market. While it is not strictly impossible, I would be hesitant to predict that it will actually happen.Let's look at it from another perspective. The combined market capitalization of the 10 largest banks is currently around $3 trillion. Assuming a generous 10% annual growth rate, it will reach $52 trillion in 30 years. Based on our assumptions, XRP would need to grow to a market capitalization of $51 trillion during the same period. Do you truly believe that XRP could be worth nearly the same as the combined market caps of the 10 largest banks in the world?In conclusion, I am confident in stating that I do not consider XRP to be a millionaire maker under any circumstances. Despite its recent success, I am skeptical about its long-term growth prospects given the challenges in bank adoption and its current valuation. If you are interested in the crypto space, I believe Bitcoin is a more prudent choice for your investment.