Large language models streamline automated machine learning for clinical studies

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Soroosh Tayebi Arasteh - , RWTH Aachen University (Author)
  • Tianyu Han - , RWTH Aachen University (Author)
  • Mahshad Lotfinia - , RWTH Aachen University (Author)
  • Christiane Kuhl - , RWTH Aachen University (Author)
  • Jakob Nikolas Kather - , Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Digital Health, Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Daniel Truhn - , RWTH Aachen University (Author)
  • Sven Nebelung - , RWTH Aachen University (Author)

Abstract

A knowledge gap persists between machine learning (ML) developers (e.g., data scientists) and practitioners (e.g., clinicians), hampering the full utilization of ML for clinical data analysis. We investigated the potential of the ChatGPT Advanced Data Analysis (ADA), an extension of GPT-4, to bridge this gap and perform ML analyses efficiently. Real-world clinical datasets and study details from large trials across various medical specialties were presented to ChatGPT ADA without specific guidance. ChatGPT ADA autonomously developed state-of-the-art ML models based on the original study’s training data to predict clinical outcomes such as cancer development, cancer progression, disease complications, or biomarkers such as pathogenic gene sequences. Following the re-implementation and optimization of the published models, the head-to-head comparison of the ChatGPT ADA-crafted ML models and their respective manually crafted counterparts revealed no significant differences in traditional performance metrics (p ≥ 0.072). Strikingly, the ChatGPT ADA-crafted ML models often outperformed their counterparts. In conclusion, ChatGPT ADA offers a promising avenue to democratize ML in medicine by simplifying complex data analyses, yet should enhance, not replace, specialized training and resources, to promote broader applications in medical research and practice.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number1603
JournalNature communications
Volume15
Issue number1
Early online date21 Feb 2024
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 38383555

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Algorithms, Language, Humans, Benchmarking, Machine Learning, Neoplasms