Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards artificial intelligence among Ashur University-Medical College students, Baghdad-Iraq

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a technology that enables machines to learn, reason, and carry out tasks that normally require human intelligence. AI can be used in a variety of ways to improve teaching and health, such as providing personalized learning experiences and developing new diagnosis approaches and treatments for diseases. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards artificial intelligence (AI) among medical students at Ashur University-Medical College (AUMC) in Baghdad, Iraq. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2024 to January 2025, involving 200 first- and second-year medical students. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire adapted from previous studies, covering Sociodemographic characteristics, AI knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The results revealed that 93.5% of students understood the basic concept of AI, but only 28.5% and 12.5% were familiar with machine learning and deep learning, respectively. A significant majority (87.5%) supported the integration of AI into their field of study, with 70.5% advocating for its inclusion in medical training. However, 68.5% opposed using AI for student assessments due to concerns about fairness and bias. While 85.5% of students used AI technologies for academic purposes, only 6% had taken AI-focused courses outside their curriculum. The study highlights the need for incorporating AI education into medical curricula and fostering extracurricular engagement to better prepare students for the evolving healthcare landscape