MAIA platform for routine clinical testing: an artificial intelligence embryo selection tool developed to assist embryologists

Abstract

The need to reduce the number of embryos transferred in assisted reproductive care to prevent multiple gestations has led to a stronger emphasis on selecting embryos with the highest morphological quality. Although this evaluation has traditionally been performed by trained embryologists, the increasing use of time-lapse incubators has introduced a greater volume of data and subjectivity in decision-making. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools can support embryologists by offering objective, standardized embryo assessments.In Brazil, like other countries, where imported embryo selection technologies may not account for local demographic and ethnic profiles, an AI model — Morphological Artificial Intelligence Assistance (MAIA) — was developed through a collaboration between a university and a private fertility clinic in São Paulo. The model was trained using 1,015 embryo images and prospectively tested in a clinical setting on 200 single embryo transfers. In clinical testing, MAIA achieved an overall accuracy of 66.5%. In elective embryo transfers, where there were more than one embryo eligible for transfer, MAIA achieved 70.1% accuracy for predicting clinical pregnancy. Designed with a user-friendly interface tailored by embryologists, MAIA provides real-time embryo evaluations to support decision-making in routine care.