FDA's New AI Tool, Elsa, Faces Internal Scrutiny

The FDA recently launched "Elsa," a new AI tool designed to streamline agency operations. This technology aims to expedite the review of clinical protocols and improve the efficiency of inspections. However, internal concerns have been raised regarding Elsa's readiness for such critical tasks. One FDA employee stated, "There's a lot of work that goes into training that model and getting the right data points out of it in a more efficient manner." This highlights the complexities involved in implementing AI in a government agency. The successful implementation of Elsa could significantly improve the FDA's efficiency, leading to faster approvals of medical devices and improved public health outcomes. Further investigation is needed to address concerns about its current functionality.