Artificial intelligence (AI) for neurologists: do digital neurones dream of electric sheep?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is routinely mentioned in journals and newspapers, and non-technical outsiders may have difficulty in distinguishing hyperbole from reality. We present a practical guide to help non-technical neurologists to understand healthcare AI. AI is being used to support clinical decisions in treating neurological disorders. We introduce basic concepts of AI, such as machine learning and natural language processing, and explain how AI is being used in healthcare, giving examples its benefits and challenges. We also cover how AI performance is measured, and its regulatory aspects in healthcare. An important theme is that AI is a general-purpose technology like medical statistics, with broad utility applicable in various scenarios, such that niche approaches are outpaced by approaches that are broadly applicable in many disease areas and specialties. By understanding AI basics and its potential applications, neurologists can make informed decisions when evaluating AI used in their clinical practice. This article was written by four humans, with generative AI helping with formatting and image generation.