Key considerations in the adoption of Artificial Intelligence in public health

Abstract

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into public health has the potential to transform the field, influencing healthcare at the population level. AI can aid in disease surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment decisions, impacting how healthcare professionals deliver care. However, it raises critical questions about inputs, values, and biases that must be addressed to ensure its effectiveness. This article investigates the factors influencing the values guiding AI technology and the potential consequences for public health. It outlines four key considerations that should shape discussions regarding the role of AI in the future of public health. These include the potential omission of vital factors due to incomplete data inputs, the challenge of balancing trade-offs in public health decisions, managing conflicting inputs between public health objectives and community preferences, and the importance of acknowledging the values and biases embedded in AI systems, which could influence public health policy-making.