The Role of AI in Shaping Medical Education: Evaluating Usage Trends Among Students and Teachers

Abstract

Introduction: Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing medical education by enhancing personalization, interactive learning, and clinical simulation. While AI supports improved accessibility, efficiency, and assessment, barriers such as high costs, ethical concerns, and insufficient faculty training persist. The present study was done to assess the knowledge & attitude of medical students and teachers towards AI in medical education.

Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out over a 3-month period among MBBS students, postgraduate residents, and faculty members at SRMS IMS Bareilly. Data were collected using a structured online questionnaire via Google Forms, comprising three sections: demographic information, awareness of AI, and attitudes toward its application in medical education.

Results: A total of 150 participants responded to the online survey, with the majority being first-year MBBS students. Most MBBS students (48%) aged 20 to 30 years use AI tools for education, chatbots (67.4%) being the most popular. A large proportion (56.7%) reported no prior AI training but expressed interest in learning. Quick response (30%) and personalized learning (22%) were reported as key benefits, while concerns included reduced human interaction (47.3%) and AI potentially replacing doctors (26.7%). Most of the respondents believe that AI will revolutionize medical education (57.3%).

Conclusion: AI tools are increasingly utilized by medical students, particularly early-year learners. Despite limited formal training, both students and faculty display a positive outlook toward AI integration. Addressing ethical concerns and enhancing training infrastructure is essential to optimize AI’s role in medical education