AI-informed virtual assistant to help solve ‘stubborn problems,’ says Saama

13-Jun-2018 - Last updated on 16-Nov-2018 at 16:05 GMT

DaLIA is Saama’s new Deep Learning Intelligent Assistant. (Image: Getty/chombosan)

Saama has launched a set of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities designed to understand "typical life science domain questions" to better support clinical trial planning, feasibility, and conduct.

The new “deep learning intelligent assistant” – DaLIA – leverages natural language processing (NLP) and natural language understanding (NLU) to enhance Saama’s existing suite of clinical trial solutions, according to the company. The so-called virtual assistant is an alternative to the keyboard and mouse.

“DaLIA is not only the gateway to robust conversational experiences with clinical trial data but the gateway to key AI enabled functionality within Saama’s Life Science Analytics Cloud (LSAC),” said Malaikannan Sankarasubbu, VP of AI Research, Saama Technologies.

The company’s LSAC is designed to address challenges including trial feasibility and planning, study conduct, as well as preclinical operations, such as adverse drug event and drug-drug interactions.

“DaLIA is domain and context aware which is significant,” Sankarasubbu told us. “DaLIA will keep track of the conversation you are having with it so that you can ask subtending questions without having to prefix it for context. DaLIA is designed to understand typical life science domain questions.”

Saama is currently piloting DaLIA at multiple pharmaceutical customers and will continue to implement the technology throughout 2018.

Sankarasubbu said: “Saama does not believe in using AI for the sake of using AI. Saama’s use of AI is focused and targeted at solving stubborn problems the industry has had for years.”