Research on artificial intelligence, machine and deep learning in medicine: global characteristics, readiness, and equity

Abstract Background Artificial intelligence (AI) will have a lasting and drastic impact on medical research and healthcare. In addition to the benefits, the associated risks are also the subject of controversial debate and there are fears of serious consequences. There is an urgent need for action,...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Doris Klingelhöfer, Markus Braun, Janis Dröge, David A. Groneberg, Dörthe Brüggmann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:Globalization and Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-025-01128-1
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850102278136004608
author Doris Klingelhöfer
Markus Braun
Janis Dröge
David A. Groneberg
Dörthe Brüggmann
author_facet Doris Klingelhöfer
Markus Braun
Janis Dröge
David A. Groneberg
Dörthe Brüggmann
author_sort Doris Klingelhöfer
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Artificial intelligence (AI) will have a lasting and drastic impact on medical research and healthcare. In addition to the benefits, the associated risks are also the subject of controversial debate and there are fears of serious consequences. There is an urgent need for action, which must be underpinned by scientific information. Methods By analyzing temporal and geographic patterns, including national readiness for access to AI, we therefore identified incentives and barriers to global research under socioeconomic conditions. Results The explosive increase in annual publications started in 2017. The main players in AImed research were the USA, China, the UK, Germany, and South Korea. There was a significant correlation between the publication output on AI in medicine (AImed) and the metrics for economy and innovation. Additionally, citation patterns show the disadvantage of the Global South compared to the North American and European countries. In several weaker economies: Jordan, Pakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia, a more positive position was found in relation to the number of articles suggesting a better ranking in AImed research in the future. Conclusion The results show the need for advanced global networking to ensure all relevant aspects for equitable development and the beneficial use of AImed without promoting racial or regional inequities and to enforce this not only in the AI systems of economically strong countries but also for the participation of economically weaker countries.
format Article
id doaj-art-2d3800a15b7b469f92bd1d81880af2a6
institution DOAJ
issn 1744-8603
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Globalization and Health
spelling doaj-art-2d3800a15b7b469f92bd1d81880af2a62025-08-20T02:39:48ZengBMCGlobalization and Health1744-86032025-06-0121111810.1186/s12992-025-01128-1Research on artificial intelligence, machine and deep learning in medicine: global characteristics, readiness, and equityDoris Klingelhöfer0Markus Braun1Janis Dröge2David A. Groneberg3Dörthe Brüggmann4Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University FrankfurtInstitute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University FrankfurtInstitute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University FrankfurtInstitute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University FrankfurtInstitute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University FrankfurtAbstract Background Artificial intelligence (AI) will have a lasting and drastic impact on medical research and healthcare. In addition to the benefits, the associated risks are also the subject of controversial debate and there are fears of serious consequences. There is an urgent need for action, which must be underpinned by scientific information. Methods By analyzing temporal and geographic patterns, including national readiness for access to AI, we therefore identified incentives and barriers to global research under socioeconomic conditions. Results The explosive increase in annual publications started in 2017. The main players in AImed research were the USA, China, the UK, Germany, and South Korea. There was a significant correlation between the publication output on AI in medicine (AImed) and the metrics for economy and innovation. Additionally, citation patterns show the disadvantage of the Global South compared to the North American and European countries. In several weaker economies: Jordan, Pakistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia, a more positive position was found in relation to the number of articles suggesting a better ranking in AImed research in the future. Conclusion The results show the need for advanced global networking to ensure all relevant aspects for equitable development and the beneficial use of AImed without promoting racial or regional inequities and to enforce this not only in the AI systems of economically strong countries but also for the participation of economically weaker countries.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-025-01128-1Medical AIResearch areasPublication outputRisksBig dataGlobal equity
spellingShingle Doris Klingelhöfer
Markus Braun
Janis Dröge
David A. Groneberg
Dörthe Brüggmann
Research on artificial intelligence, machine and deep learning in medicine: global characteristics, readiness, and equity
Globalization and Health
Medical AI
Research areas
Publication output
Risks
Big data
Global equity
title Research on artificial intelligence, machine and deep learning in medicine: global characteristics, readiness, and equity
title_full Research on artificial intelligence, machine and deep learning in medicine: global characteristics, readiness, and equity
title_fullStr Research on artificial intelligence, machine and deep learning in medicine: global characteristics, readiness, and equity
title_full_unstemmed Research on artificial intelligence, machine and deep learning in medicine: global characteristics, readiness, and equity
title_short Research on artificial intelligence, machine and deep learning in medicine: global characteristics, readiness, and equity
title_sort research on artificial intelligence machine and deep learning in medicine global characteristics readiness and equity
topic Medical AI
Research areas
Publication output
Risks
Big data
Global equity
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-025-01128-1
work_keys_str_mv AT dorisklingelhofer researchonartificialintelligencemachineanddeeplearninginmedicineglobalcharacteristicsreadinessandequity
AT markusbraun researchonartificialintelligencemachineanddeeplearninginmedicineglobalcharacteristicsreadinessandequity
AT janisdroge researchonartificialintelligencemachineanddeeplearninginmedicineglobalcharacteristicsreadinessandequity
AT davidagroneberg researchonartificialintelligencemachineanddeeplearninginmedicineglobalcharacteristicsreadinessandequity
AT dorthebruggmann researchonartificialintelligencemachineanddeeplearninginmedicineglobalcharacteristicsreadinessandequity