A new AI-powered voice analysis tool could revolutionise healthcare by making Type 2 diabetes screening more accessible and cheaper. Getty Images
A new AI-powered voice analysis tool could revolutionise healthcare by making Type 2 diabetes screening more accessible and cheaper. Getty Images
A new AI-powered voice analysis tool could revolutionise healthcare by making Type 2 diabetes screening more accessible and cheaper. Getty Images
A new AI-powered voice analysis tool could revolutionise healthcare by making Type 2 diabetes screening more accessible and cheaper. Getty Images

AI-powered voice analysis tool could detect Type 2 diabetes


Marwa Hassan
  • English
  • Arabic

Ten-second voice recordings interpreted by artificial intelligence could be used to screen for Type 2 diabetes, a study has found.

The model developed by the scientists at Klick Labs was 89 per cent accurate for women and 86 per cent accurate for men.

The study suggests that Type 2 diabetes induces subtle changes in a person's voice.

These changes, such as variations in pitch and intensity, are not easily perceivable by the human ear but can be detected and analysed through specialised technology.

This research suggests a potential shift towards more accessible and cost-effective preliminary screening methods for Type 2 diabetes, a condition that remains undiagnosed in almost half of the 240 million adults affected globally.

In the study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health, participants, both non-diabetic and those with type 2 diabetes, were asked to record a phrase six times daily for two weeks using their smartphones.

A total of 267 participants contributed to more than 18,000 recordings, which were then analysed for differences in 14 vocal features, including pitch and intensity.

The AI model used these vocal features, alongside basic health data such as age, sex, height and weight, to distinguish between non-diabetic individuals and those with Type 2 diabetes.

Jaycee Kaufman, a research scientist at Klick Labs and the first author of the study, said: “Our research highlights significant vocal variations between individuals with and without Type 2 diabetes."

Yan Fossat, vice president of Klick Labs, also highlighted the study’s implications, suggesting that the new approach could “revolutionise healthcare practices as an accessible and affordable digital screening tool”.

The tool achieved accuracies of up to 89 per cent for women and 86 per cent for men in the study. Getty Images
The tool achieved accuracies of up to 89 per cent for women and 86 per cent for men in the study. Getty Images

While the findings are encouraging, the researchers plan to conduct further studies to confirm their results and to explore the applicability of voice analysis in diagnosing other conditions, such as prediabetes and hypertension.

Additional research involving more extensive and diverse participant groups is considered necessary to validate voice analysis as a universally effective and reliable screening tool for Type 2 diabetes.

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The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.

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How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries

• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.

• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.

• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.

• For more information visit the library network's website.

Overall head-to-head

Federer 6-1 Cilic

Head-to-head at Wimbledon

Federer 1-0 Cilic

Grand Slams titles

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Best Wimbledon performance

Federer: Winner (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012)
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MATCH INFO

CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures

Tuesday:

Primeiro Agosto (ANG) v Esperance (TUN) (8pm UAE)
Al Ahly (EGY) v Entente Setif (ALG) (11PM)

Second legs:

October 23

Updated: October 18, 2023, 12:49 PM`