Readiness to Embrace Artificial Intelligence Among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia: A National Survey

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping healthcare, offering transformative potential for diagnostics, treatment, and patient management. Despite its growing significance, there is limited integration of AI education in medical curricula, raising concerns about the readiness of future healthcare professionals to utilize AI technologies. This study aims to evaluate the readiness of medical students in Saudi Arabia to embrace AI and to assess the current state of AI education, AI Application use, and future perspectives for medical students. Methods: a cross-sectional design was employed. It involved medical students from various regions of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using an anonymous, online, structured, and validated tool from previous studies. The survey included sociodemographic information, details on AI education, the usage of AI applications, intended specialties, and a Medical Artificial Intelligence Readiness Scale for Medical Students (MAIRS-MS). The data were extracted and revised in an Excel sheet. Statistical analysis was conducted using the IBM SPSS computer program with appropriate statistical tests. Results: This study enrolled 572 medical students, with a mean age of 21.93 years. Most students were Saudi (99.0%), and 43.7% lived in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Most students attended a government medical college (97.41%), and 64.3% of students were in their clinical years. Only 14.5% of the students had received formal AI education, while 34.3% had participated in extracurricular AI training. The mean (SD) MAIRS-MS score was 68.39 (18.3), with higher scores associated with female students, those from the central region, and those with advanced English and computer technology skills (p < 0.001). Conclusions: there is limited AI education and moderate AI readiness among medical students in Saudi colleges, with significant variability in terms of gender, region, and educational background. These findings underscore the need to integrate AI education into medical curricula to better prepare future physicians for AI-enabled healthcare systems.