The wizard of artificial intelligence: Are physicians prepared?

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Despite the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine, research into the knowledge and attitudes of medical experts toward AI is limited. This study aimed to assess physicians' attitudes and perceptions of AI applications in healthcare. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between November 1 and December 20, 2023. Data was collected using a web-based validated self-administered questionnaire; information sought included demographics, familiarity with AI technology, attitudes towards AI applications in medicine, and perceived risks associated with its implementation. Data analysis performed using SPSS. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages, whereas mean and standard deviations were calculated for continuous variables. Four domains were used as study variables: familiarity, attitude, AI application, and possible risks. The domains were compared to the scored individual question using Pearson's correlation coefficient. A total of 128 academic staff participated (response rate 21.3%). About 41% reported being aware of AI as an emerging field and expressed desire to learn about AI. Concerns about the effect of AI on physicians' employability were not prominent. Instead, most (65.6%) agreed that new positions would be created and that the job market for those who embraced AI would increase. Thirty-two percent reported actively seeking out new technologies in their practice areas, and 24.2% would be willing to adapt AI to practice if its usefulness was published in scientific journals. Most participants (87.5%) agreed that dedicated courses would help them implement AI in their specialty. The most commonly reported problem of AI was its inability to provide opinions in unexpected scenarios. A quarter of participants believed that both AI creators and doctors should be liable for AI-caused medical errors. Physician's age, gender, or years of experience were not related to their familiarity with or attitudes toward AI. Doctors are open to learning about AI use in medicine. Including AI learning objectives or short courses in medical curricula would help physicians develop the necessary skills for an AI-augmented healthcare system.