SK Telecom, SNU Hospital to develop AI diagnosis tool for autism

South Korea's top mobile carrier SK Telecom Co. and Seoul National University Hospital have developed an AI-powered diagnosis tool for the early detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in infants, according to a statement released on Thursday. The tool, called "AI Living Lab for Infant Development Diagnosis," is designed to help diagnose and determine the severity of ASD in infants using AI technology.

The tool is based on AI behavior diagnostic technology and serves as a diagnostic space for infants with ASD, located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, near Seoul National University Hospital. According to SK Telecom and the hospital, there is currently a shortage of specialized personnel for the early diagnosis and treatment of ASD in South Korea.

Although autism spectrum disorder can be diagnosed as early as 18 months, a shortage of medical facilities and high demand means that it is usually not diagnosed until the child is five years old.

To refine their AI model, SK Telecom and Seoul National University Hospital plan to screen 1,200 children in the high-risk group for autism by the end of next year. The AI will be provided as an application programming interface (API) that can be used in applications for guardians or professional clinical diagnosis systems.

The AI Living Lab will use high-performance cameras and other specialized behavioral observation equipment to detect high-risk cases early and provide prompt treatment.

Seoul National University Hospital plans to use the data and AI analysis results gathered by the AI Living Lab to diagnose children with medical conditions and offer fast-track treatments. They also plan to use the AI tool to verify the efficacy of treatment for autism spectrum disorder.

Write to Seung-Woo Lee at leeswoo@hankyung.com