Do We Need Data Standards in the Era of Large Language Models?

Gabriel A. Brat, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., Joshua C. Mandel, M.D., and Matthew B.A. McDermott, Ph.D.

Abstract

Data standards for the health information ecosystem have played a critical role in enabling software integration across health care enterprises for data sharing, analysis, clinical research, and public health. However, the ability to use large language models to dynamically extract unstructured data into a standardized form for downstream use poses a question about the future of health data. Namely, what role do data standards play in the era of large language models, and will we need data standards at all? (Funded by Harvard Medical School.)