With summer now behind us, Australians might notice a few new sunspots. More than two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime.

“AI saved my life,” said Adam Cogan, a patient of Dr Seit. He recently had a melanoma noticed after another dermatologist gave him the all-clear.

Dr Samuel Seit, a Sydney-based expert in skin cancer detection, is pioneering AI to help identify which spots are harmless and which are harmful.

“He took heaps of pictures of my skin with his mobile phone, which I saw appearing over on his PC,” said Adam Cogan.

Dr Seit explained on 2SER Breakfast that AI technology analyses skin patterns and anomalies with high precision, potentially identifying harmful spots the human eye might miss.

AI recommended a biopsy of a particular mole. Dr Seit called Adam to bring him in the next day and have the melanoma removed.

“I was there well before 9 am, ready to be cut open. I now have a pretty big scar, but more importantly, no cancer in my bloodstream,” said Adam Cogan.

“We’re not relying on AI completely to make the diagnosis. The final decision is to the doctors,” Dr Seit reassured listeners.

Implementing AI in skin cancer detection is expected to become more accessible but currently remains expensive, with consultation around $800.

“[AI] has actually been used in medicine for the last few years, knowingly or unknowingly, and depends on whether the person picks a doctor starting to embrace AI.”

Efforts are underway to integrate this technology into regular skin checks, making it available to a broader population, including young people in Sydney.

Regular skin checks are recommended for everyone, especially those with a history of sun exposure or skin cancer in their family. Early detection remains critical to effective treatment.