Opportunities and Challenges of Using Artificial Intelligence in Predicting Clinical Outcomes and Length of Stay in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: Systematic Review

This review highlights the potential of AI in improving NICU care, particularly through predictive models, medical imaging, and personalized interventions. However, the evidence is limited by significant methodological variability, small sample sizes, risk of bias, and a lack of external validation in included studies. Many studies remain in exploratory phases without cohesive AI strategies or integration into clinical practice, limiting the practical applicability of findings. These results underscore the importance of addressing challenges such as data quality, model generalization, and ethical considerations to fully realize AI's potential in neonatal care. Future research should focus on robust validation, comprehensive implementation strategies, and ethical frameworks to ensure AI's effective and responsible integration into NICU settings.