Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Echocardiography: A Primer for Community Physicians

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized multiple domains of cardiovascular patient care and is being increasingly applied at different stages of the echocardiography workflow. Contemporary applications include automated view classification, real-time image quality guidance, chamber and function assessments (ejection fraction, chamber volumes, strain), and assisted diagnosis of cardiac conditions, such as heart failure, valvular disease, and cardiomyopathies. In some domains of echocardiography, AI algorithms can match or surpass the performance of human experts. Recent advances in large language models and multi-modal vision-language models have paved the way for complete end-to-end echocardiographic report generation. In this narrative review, we provide an introductory survey of the landscape of currently available AI tools for enhancing each step of the echocardiography workflow. We aim to equip practising community physicians with frameworks to understand and apply AI-based ultrasound technologies in an informed manner. By understanding current applications and limitations, and by selecting tools judiciously, clinicians may safely integrate AI into echocardiography practice to improve patient care.