New x-ray powered by artificial intelligence launched in Australia

Robert Daly/KOTO / stock.adobe.com

SK Telecom (SKT), a Korean-based technology company, has officially launched its artificial intelligence (AI) powered veterinary X-ray image diagnosis assistance service, X Caliber, in Australia. According to a company release,¹ the X Caliber uses AI to analyze X-ray images of dogs and cats within 15 seconds, approximately. The X Caliber also uses cloud to store and retrieve data, which eliminates the need to install a separate server in the veterinary hospital. Veterinarians can then examine the results of the AI-based image diagnosis on a mobile device or computer at anytime. The x-ray system can also be easily upgraded and managed, according to SKT.

The X Caliber was first developed in 2022 and presented to veterinarians during the 2022 Seoul Veterinary Conference.²

“With AI technologies being developed and applied to the medical sector at a rapid pace, the commercialization of SKT’s X Caliber is expected to serve as an important turning point for the advancement of veterinary medicine,” said Lee Young-won, professor at Chungnam National University College of Veterinary Medicine in a press release.²

The sensitivity of X Caliber stands at 86-94%¹:

• 94% for detection of 16 different abnormal patterns from abdominal X-ray images of dogs
• 88% for detection of 10 different abnormal patterns from chest X-ray images of dogs
• 86% for detection of 7 different abnormalities from musculoskeletal X-ray images of dogs

With the latest launch in Australia, the X Caliber can be used by more than 100 veterinary clinics across the country. This is a necessary achievement for Australia because of the country’s high volume of pet ownership. According to Animal Medicines Australia,³ there is an estimated 28.7 million pets in Australia as of 2023 and it has one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world. Approximately 69% of households in Australia own pets, with dogs being the most common at 48%, followed by cats at 33%.

SKT is currently actively providing beta service to veterinary clinics in North America, Europe, and Asia to further expand X Caliber's presence in the global market.¹

References

1. SKT launches AI-powered veterinary diagnostic assistance service X Caliber in Australia. News release. SK Telecom. May 28, 2024. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/skt-launches-ai-powered-veterinary-diagnostic-assistance-service-x-caliber-in-australia-302157305.html
2. SKT launches AI-based veterinary x-ray image diagnosis assistance service ‘X Caliber’. News release. SK Telecom. September 26, 2022. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://www.sktelecom.com/en/press/press_detail.do?idx=1544
3. Pets in Australia: A national survey of pets and people. Animal Medicines Australia. 2022. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/AMAU008-Pet-Ownership22-Report_v1.6_WEB.pdf