The technology repeatedly proves itself when it comes to looking at – and into – the human body and predicting disease risk. Some examples of AI's diagnostic prowess include looking at chest X-rays , staring deeply into our eyes to detect diseases, reading MRIs to spot fat around our hearts, and even examining our tongues to detect conditions including asthma and anemia. Now, apparently, it can improve upon the humble stethoscope as well, according to a new study in the journal, Digital Health.

The study details the work of researchers based at various institutions across the United States who linked AI to a stethoscope to see how much of an improvement it could provide. To test the device, they assembled a group of 357 patients over the age of 50, all of whom had risk factors for heart disease including hypertension, diabetes, a body mass index above 30, or previous cardiac events.