ACR’s Connect and AI-LAB technical framework

OBJECTIVE: To develop a free, vendor-neutral software suite, the American College of Radiology (ACR) Connect, which serves as a platform for democratizing artificial intelligence (AI) for all individuals and institutions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among its core capabilities, ACR Connect provides educational resources; tools for dataset annotation; model building and evaluation; and an interface for collaboration and federated learning across institutions without the need to move data off hospital premises. RESULTS: The AI-LAB application within ACR Connect allows users to investigate AI models using their own local data while maintaining data security. The software enables non-technical users to participate in the evaluation and training of AI models as part of a larger, collaborative network. DISCUSSION: Advancements in AI have transformed automated quantitative analysis for medical imaging. Despite the significant progress in research, AI is currently underutilized in current clinical workflows. The success of AI model development depends critically on the synergy between physicians who can drive clinical direction, data scientists who can design effective algorithms, and the availability of high-quality datasets. ACR Connect and AI-LAB provide a way to perform external validation as well as collaborative, distributed training. CONCLUSION: In order to create a collaborative AI ecosystem across clinical and technical domains, the ACR developed a platform that enables non-technical users to participate in education and model development.