AI for IVF is the next technological revolution – says Dr. Antonio Vidal.

In the rapidly evolving field of reproductive medicine, Dr. Antonio Vidal, a renowned clinical embryologist, is at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence into everyday practice.  His enthusiasm for leveraging technology highlights the incredible opportunities AI for IVF offers, to advance the field of assisted reproduction and improve outcomes for patients worldwide by supporting embryologists. We asked Dr. Antonio Vidal what he thinks of AI for IVF, where he sees the benefits and opportunities of this next technology while overcoming challenges and hesitations. 

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How does AI for IVF help you as a professional in reproductive medicine?

One of the main characteristics of patients at an assisted reproduction center is the great variability in the conditions they present. This diversity creates subgroups that require personalized approaches. With so many possible treatment paths, making the best decision is crucial as it supports us in optimizing the economic, physical, and emotional resources of our patients.

For me, having AI tools that assist in the decision-making process is essential, allowing us to study, propose, and adjust treatments more effectively. This helps us reduce the time to achieve pregnancy and the birth of a healthy baby, while also minimizing the risk of multiple pregnancies with their associated complications.

Could this be the next technological revolution for IVF?

There is no doubt. AI is the next technological revolution in IVF. It can favorably intervene by establishing a reproductive prognosis based on the couple’s baseline characteristics, combined with imaging and laboratory studies. It can refine ovarian stimulation protocols to obtain better eggs, enhance gamete and embryo selection, and standardize and automate laboratory processes.

The result?  Reproductive medicine becomes more accessible, by reducing costs and delivering better outcomes.

As a lab director, why is it important for you to introduce new technology into the lab?

An important aspect of the laboratory, and the staff that works in it, is standardization. Despite the presence of procedure manuals and criteria standardization programs, there is always some variability from one individual to another. Normally, decisions are made by the laboratory director, but in places where the workflow is intense, this is not always possible.

AI for IVF can make these processes more efficient, ensuring standardization and streamlining workflows. Additionally, reports generated by various AI applications are highly beneficial for providing information to doctors, guiding patients, and training less experienced embryologists. Altogether, this helps the laboratory to function properly, promoting positive outcomes.

Were you excited to introduce AI for IVF to your team?

Naturally, there are doubts and resistance to implementing new tools, especially those that might challenge personal judgment in decision-making. However, once you understand that the tool is designed to assist you in making your own decisions, confidence grows.

Seeing the program’s suggestions immediately becomes exciting, often based on information that’s difficult to detect manually. Observing the consistency in criteria boosts team confidence while analyzing discrepancies provides new learning opportunities. In the end, one ends up truly amazed.

How can the team overcome the initial hesitation in introducing new tools such as AI for IVF?

First, it is about recognizing that there are needs in the IVF laboratory that can be covered with tools such as AI  for IVF. AI is not intended to replace the work of the Embryologist, but rather it is a tool that assists the Embryologist in decision-making.

With this in mind, processes that require improvement can be identified, a work plan can be drawn up for implementing the technology in a pilot test, and strategies can be put in place to monitor the results. Involving the entire work team is crucial in this process since seeing the positive results can be motivating and help reduce resistance to the implementation of AI for IVF tools.

How do you see the balance between ease of use and effectiveness when integrating AI tools into a lab setting?

AI tools must facilitate workflow and improve the accuracy of decisions without creating an additional workload that could be counterproductive. The design of an application should be user-friendly and simple, allowing data, images, and videos to be entered without complications, and providing predictive value. It is the embryologists’ responsibility to understand the fundamentals of the application, including the training and validation studies, and to ensure consistency. Beyond that, it’s about trusting the application and having the criteria to interpret the results. It is also essential to have a reliable technical support team that can respond quickly to any issues that may arise.

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AI for IVF is not just the next step in reproductive medicine—it’s the game-changer we’ve been waiting for. Antonio Vidal’s visionary approach to integrating AI into the IVF lab shows how technology can enhance every aspect of fertility care. As it continues to reshape the future of IVF, the potential for AI to revolutionize outcomes is limitless, making dreams of parenthood more achievable than ever before. The future of fertility is here, and it’s empowering, efficient, and full of promise.

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