The UK government wants to use artificial intelligence to spot signs of disease earlier. In a speech today, prime minister Theresa May said that AI could help to stop 22,000 cancer deaths a year by 2033 . The technology could also be used for other conditions, such as heart disease.

The plan is to develop AI systems that can scan data about patients’ habits and genetics, and then cross-reference the country’s health records to spot people at an early stage of disease.

“The development of smart …