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If you are comparing AI development tools for image analysis in pathology, you might encounter many options, ranging from commercial to open-source tools. The decision on a suitable tool ultimately comes down to your specific needs and priorities. To help you on your AI journey, we have listed the key things to keep in mind when deciding on an AI development tool.
Things to consider when selecting an AI development tool
Every laboratory has unique needs, so finding the right fit comes down to asking the right questions. Here is a list of topics to explore when discussing AI image analysis software options with different vendors:
- Integration possibilities: How does the tool fit into your existing laboratory infrastructure?
- Scalability and cloud resources: Does the tool allow you to scale up from smaller projects to bigger ones? How is the image management handled, or is the user in charge of storage space?
- Graphics processing unit (GPU): How powerful is the tool and technology to run it on? Advanced AI training requires powerful GPU resources.
- Support: What kind of documentation is available? How are new users onboarded? Is there support personnel available when needed?
- Transition to clinical: Is it possible to start using the AI model in routine practice once it is developed and validated?
- Security: How is information security handled?
- Features: What features and functionalities are available for beginners? What about for advanced users?
What is Aiforia’s take on these topics?
Aiforia® Create is the most versatile tool on the market for developing, customizing, and validating deep learning AI models for histological features and patterns in image analysis. Thousands of AI models across research and clinical use cases have been developed with it, with applications ranging from cancer research to neuroscience and even outside the medical field.
Keeping the above-mentioned topics in mind, here are five key takeaways that set Aiforia® Create apart.
1. Foundation Engine & unique functionalities
At the heart of the latest Aiforia® Create version is the Foundation Engine, a proprietary solution developed by Aiforia. By combining pre-trained foundation models with users’ annotations, this innovative approach improves AI model performance under real-world sample variation while requiring less training data and manual annotations during the AI model development phase.
Watch a webinar on how Foundation Engine is advancing digital pathology →
To further streamline the AI development process, Aiforia® Create features a patented Annotation Assistant. Powered by active learning, the Annotation Assistant proposes pre-made annotations on the most informative areas of the training data, allowing the user to accept, modify, or reject the suggestions, thereby significantly speeding up the process.
Learn more about Annotation Assistant →
For complex image analysis workflows, these underlying capabilities run seamlessly alongside Aiforia® Create’s core segmentation tools: semantic segmentation, object detection, and instance segmentation. For precise quantification of areas and shapes, instance segmentation takes analysis a step further by outlining distinct features. This allows researchers to obtain granular data on area counts, bounding boxes, and staining intensity, such as true cell borders and sizes, even when structures merge or overlap.
Learn more about Aiforia® Create’s segmentation features →
2. Access to the entire Aiforia® Platform
Aiforia® Create subscription serves as the gateway to the broader Aiforia® Platform, bridging custom AI model development with a versatile workspace for storing, sharing, and analyzing images. The Aiforia® Platform facilitates the full journey from research to clinical, enabling users to develop their own AI model, validate it, and eventually deploy it in basic research, GLP-compliant studies, and clinical practice.
→ Read how the University of Bern did it:
Industry-academia collaboration led to a CE-IVD marked AI solution
Advanced AI training requires powerful GPU resources. Aiforia® Create users have access to state-of-the-art processors and never have to worry about running out of cloud storage, making the solution scalable and fit for projects of all sizes.
“The biggest benefit of using the Aiforia® Platform is that it's cloud-based and that it did not require installation or any sophisticated equipment at our laboratory. The microscopic slides that were used for this project were digitized and uploaded to the platform. The only requirement was that the slides were stained using the same staining protocol and that the same scanner was used. Another advantage was that the training and external validation was completely remote and could be performed at any place and at any time, and this was clearly a big advantage.” – Leonie Saft, Senior Consultant, Karolinska University Hospital
3. Constant support
Aiforia provides dedicated support representatives from Aiforia’s team of scientists. They work closely with the customers, providing proactive guidance and help with any challenges along the way.
Users also get access to Aiforia Community, a digital space that gives them a unique opportunity to interact with peers, access a knowledge base to find the latest documentation, and learn tips and tricks on annotating, image analysis, and other topics.
"I really liked the collaborative aspect of the training. The Aiforia scientists were trying to get it right as much as we were trying to get it right, which feels good. A lot of times, a company will just give you a product and not be able to tweak it for you. But with Aiforia, it felt more like a collaboration." - Can Kayatekin, Senior Scientist at Sanofi
"The Aiforia team is extraordinary. Not only are they experts who have built amazing technology, but they are also great teachers and passionate about helping their clients succeed. We are thrilled to be working with them." - Dr. Mozayeni, Laboratory Director at T Lab Inc
4. Ease of use
Aiforia® Create is an AI development tool designed for pathologists and scientists. It has a modern, intuitive user interface and requires no coding skills, allowing domain experts to focus on the biology. Its cloud-based nature makes it extremely fast to implement; no installation is needed.
Aiforia® Create efficiently processes large and complex images in any 2D format, including multichannel, Z-stack, and high bit depth images, minimizing setup friction and streamlining data ingestion across various scanner types.
“Aiforia Create is a great solution for pathologists with no data science or specific coding expertise willing to start working hands-on with AI in their research. The cloud-based platform is very user-friendly, and the open and on-demand communication with their knowledgeable team of scientists is a perk.” – Eleonora Duregon, Assistant Professor of Pathology at the Department of Oncology of the University of Turin
However, being easy does not mean a lack of features. Advanced users can uncover complex functionalities within the tool, enhancing its potential.
5. Security
Aiforia emphasizes cloud security to ensure a reliable experience. This allows the user to focus on building AI models with their own data, knowing that their images are protected.
Aiforia® Platform follows the latest best practices, including data encryption, fault-tolerant cloud storage, firewalls, and robust user authentication. Penetration testing is performed regularly, and continuous and automated monitoring provides fast identification of issues.
Read more about quality and security at Aiforia here →
See yourself
To summarize, if you are looking for an easy-to-use and secure AI development tool for image analysis–with support from experienced scientists–turn to Aiforia® Create. Paying only for what you use, you can get started with smaller projects and scale up as your needs grow.
Request a personalized demo to see the tool's versatile capabilities for creating, customizing, and validating deep learning AI models for histological features and patterns in image analysis.
Learn more about Aiforia® Create’s features:
