Perspective: advancing public health education by embedding AI literacy
Artificial intelligence (AI) fundamentally reshaping public health practice, yet formal training in AI literacy remains scarce in most public health educational programs. The rapid emergence of large language models and other AI-driven technologies such as computer vision, predictive analytics, and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Digital Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1584883/full |
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| _version_ | 1849318290361417728 |
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| author | Jose A. Acosta |
| author_facet | Jose A. Acosta |
| author_sort | Jose A. Acosta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Artificial intelligence (AI) fundamentally reshaping public health practice, yet formal training in AI literacy remains scarce in most public health educational programs. The rapid emergence of large language models and other AI-driven technologies such as computer vision, predictive analytics, and natural language processing tools—used in applications ranging from epidemiological modeling and policy analysis to real-time health communication—highlights the urgent need to bridge a persistent knowledge gap in structured, competency-based AI training for public health students and professionals. This Perspective article introduces the growing role of AI in public health, examines challenges in diverse global settings, outlines current gaps in AI literacy training, and proposes a framework for integrating AI competencies into undergraduate, graduate, and continuing public health curricula. In doing so, it emphasizes the importance of equipping tomorrow's public health workforce with the ethical, technical, and critical-thinking skills needed to harness AI's potential to improve health outcomes and support public health practice across diverse and underserved communities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bdce1bf7644e4f859f5a562ee35749c8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-253X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Digital Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-bdce1bf7644e4f859f5a562ee35749c82025-08-20T03:50:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Digital Health2673-253X2025-07-01710.3389/fdgth.2025.15848831584883Perspective: advancing public health education by embedding AI literacyJose A. AcostaArtificial intelligence (AI) fundamentally reshaping public health practice, yet formal training in AI literacy remains scarce in most public health educational programs. The rapid emergence of large language models and other AI-driven technologies such as computer vision, predictive analytics, and natural language processing tools—used in applications ranging from epidemiological modeling and policy analysis to real-time health communication—highlights the urgent need to bridge a persistent knowledge gap in structured, competency-based AI training for public health students and professionals. This Perspective article introduces the growing role of AI in public health, examines challenges in diverse global settings, outlines current gaps in AI literacy training, and proposes a framework for integrating AI competencies into undergraduate, graduate, and continuing public health curricula. In doing so, it emphasizes the importance of equipping tomorrow's public health workforce with the ethical, technical, and critical-thinking skills needed to harness AI's potential to improve health outcomes and support public health practice across diverse and underserved communities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1584883/fullartificial intelligencepublic health educationcurriculum developmentdigital health literacyethics |
| spellingShingle | Jose A. Acosta Perspective: advancing public health education by embedding AI literacy Frontiers in Digital Health artificial intelligence public health education curriculum development digital health literacy ethics |
| title | Perspective: advancing public health education by embedding AI literacy |
| title_full | Perspective: advancing public health education by embedding AI literacy |
| title_fullStr | Perspective: advancing public health education by embedding AI literacy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perspective: advancing public health education by embedding AI literacy |
| title_short | Perspective: advancing public health education by embedding AI literacy |
| title_sort | perspective advancing public health education by embedding ai literacy |
| topic | artificial intelligence public health education curriculum development digital health literacy ethics |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1584883/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT joseaacosta perspectiveadvancingpublichealtheducationbyembeddingailiteracy |