Microsoft Says Its AI Diagnostic System Outperforms Human Doctors

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta -  Microsoft has unveiled an artificial intelligence (AI) medical diagnosis system that it claims is significantly more accurate than human doctors.

The system, named Microsoft AI Diagnostic Orchestrator, was found to be four times more accurate than a group of experienced physicians during internal testing.

In a blog post published last Monday, Microsoft reported that its AI system, when paired with OpenAI’s large language model o3, achieved an 85.5 percent accuracy rate in solving medical cases.

In comparison, 21 doctors from the United States and the United Kingdom, each with five to twenty years of experience, averaged only 20 percent accuracy. These doctors were not given access to diagnostic tools, medical references, or AI support during the test.

The study involved 304 clinical cases from the New England Journal of Medicine. Both the AI system and the doctors were tasked with solving each case step by step, simulating real-world procedures such as ordering diagnostic tests, asking patient questions, and finalizing a diagnosis.

Microsoft also noted that its AI solution has the potential to reduce healthcare costs by minimizing unnecessary expenditures.

"Our findings also suggest that AI reduce unnecessary healthcare costs. US health spending is nearing 20% of US GDP, with up to 25% of that estimated to be wasted," Microsoft stated, as quoted by Business Insider on July 1, 2025.

Mustafa Suleyman, who heads Microsoft’s AI division, described the achievement as a major milestone toward advanced medical intelligence.

"Microsoft has taken a genuine step toward medical superintelligence," says Mustafa.

In an interview with The Guardian, Suleyman expressed optimism about the future development of AI in healthcare.

"It’s pretty clear that we are on a path to these systems getting almost error-free in the next 5-10 years. It will be a massive weight off the shoulders of all health systems around the world," he said.

The research also stemmed from concerns within Microsoft about the reliability of AI performance in multiple-choice exams like the US Medical Licensing Examination. The company argued that such tests often favor rote memorization and may not accurately reflect the depth of understanding needed for real medical practice.

Despite its promising performance, Microsoft emphasized that the AI system is not designed to replace physicians. Instead, it is intended to assist healthcare professionals as a supportive tool.

"Their clinical roles are much broader than simply making a diagnosis. They need to navigate ambiguity and build trust with patients and their families in a way that AI isn’t set up to do," Microsoft stated.

Prominent figures such as Bill Gates have also spoken in favor of AI’s role in addressing global shortages in medical personnel.

"AI will come in and provide medical IQ, and there won't be a shortage," Gates said during a People podcast in April 2025.

However, some in the healthcare field urge caution. Shravan Verma, CEO of a health tech startup in Singapore, said AI cannot replace the human aspect of medical care. He pointed out that artificial intelligence lacks physical presence and cannot match human empathy or judgment in complex or uncertain situations.

"Chatbots and AI tools can handle the first mile of care, but they must escalate to qualified professionals when needed," Verma told Business Insider last month.

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