The dermatologist, the melanoma and artificial intelligence. The (slow) development of uses and the changes in clinical reflexivity

This article looks at the ways in which artificial intelligence systems are appropriated and used in the field of dermatology, based on the case of early detection of skin cancers, including melanoma, which can be life-threatening. The research is based mainly on semi-structured interviews with dermatologists, most of whom specialize in onco-dermatology, and some of whom use artificial intelligence devices and/or participate in their development. After presenting the background to the development of AI in dermatology, the authors identify a range of positions on the integration of artificial intelligence into their practice. Focusing on the appropriation of new tools (scoring systems or automatic skin lesion detection devices) in clinical practice, the analysis shows the extent to which their day-to-day use contributes to transforming reflexivity and the production of professional judgements, particularly those linked to the professional vision that AI equips.