Artificial Intelligence Readiness Among Paramedics at the Saudi Red Crescent Authority: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: To evaluate AI readiness among paramedics working within the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) and examine demographic and professional characteristics related to their readiness.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among SRCA paramedics. Data were collected through a structured online questionnaire covering demographic and professional features and the validated Medical Artificial Intelligence Readiness Scale for Medical Students (MAIRS-MS), which assesses four dimensions: Cognition, Ability, Vision, and Ethics. Comparisons between groups were performed with the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests, while correlations were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation, and a multiple linear regression model examined factors independently related to AI readiness.Results: A total of 262 paramedics participated. The mean overall AI readiness score was 72.55 (SD 21.79) on the 110-point scale, reflecting a moderate degree of readiness. The Ethics and the Cognition domains had the highest (3.57/5) and the lowest (3.15/5) mean item scores, respectively. Participants reported greater confidence in AI's ethical and practical aspects than in understanding AI concepts and terminology. Prior AI training was the only factor independently associated with higher AI readiness (B=10.13, 95% CI 3.45–16.81; P=.003).Conclusion: SRCA paramedics demonstrated moderate AI readiness, with greater confidence in AI's ethical and practical application than in its conceptual and technical foundations. Prior AI training was the only independent factor associated with higher readiness, highlighting the potential of structured AI education before the broader implementation of AI in EMS.