There’s a Fatty Liver Epidemic. AI Could Help Get Ahead of It

Aug 13, 2026 5:00 AM

Over a billion people worldwide have livers with excess fat, which can lead to a host of medical problems. Researchers think AI tools can spot the condition—and help stop it—early enough to save lives.

Photo-Illustration: Darrell Jackson; Getty Images

All over the world, a slow, insidious change is taking place in the composition of the livers of more than a billion people.

Reporting from WIRED contributed to this story.