The Future is Here: Role of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Literature

By Nayab Afzal

Affiliations

1. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, The Aga Khan Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan

doi: 10.29271/jcpsp.2024.08.1004

Sir,

The oldest medical journal is widely considered to be "Le Journal des Scavans," (Journal of the Experts) which was published in 1665.¹ Since then, the landscape of medical research and publication has undergone fascinating changes, adaptations, and innovations. Over centuries, there has been a massive shift from handwritten manuscripts circulated in close-knit circles, to subscriptions by a wider audience, and finally to digital transformation, where knowledge could flow quickly, empowering researchers with unprecedented access and speed.

As a dedicated medical professional, I feel compelled to highlight the recent groundbreaking development in the medical field: Artificial Intelligence (AI). The new AI tools can revolutionise medical research, data collection, data analysis, manuscript writing, and publication. However, as we embrace this transformative technology, we must ensure its ethical utilisation.

Recent advancements in AI have introduced a plethora of innovative tools. For instance, Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms like ChatGPT can swiftly analyse vast amounts of medical literature, summarise data, and identify emerging trends. AI technology can assist in all aspects of manuscript writing, starting from initial drafts to statistical analysis to proofreading the final submission.² Additionally, AI-driven platforms such as SciNote and Zotero are available for reference management and citation formatting.³ Furthermore, tools like Research Rabbit, and Chat PDF are available to aid researchers in synthesising and summarising existing research findings.⁴

The widespread utilisation of AI-based systems raises con-cerns regarding plagiarism, data security, privacy, machine bias, and the social anxiety of the threat of being replaced by AI.

Moreover, fostering acceptance of new-age AI tools within the medical community is crucial. Educational integration, seminars, and workshops can spread awareness about AI, empowering researchers to harness its capabilities effectively. It is important to recognise that AI tools should be used as a complement to the human mind and should not be considered a replacement.

To ensure responsible usage, collaborative efforts must be made by multidisciplinary teams comprising clinicians, researchers, and AI experts to develop guidelines for the ethical use of AI in medical research and literature writing. These guidelines should focus on plagiarism, transparency, accountability, and the preservation of human judgement.

In conclusion, the ethical use and integration of AI tools in medical literature writing represent a pivotal moment in the healthcare advancement. We must find a balance between human intellect and AI technology. The integrity of medical knowledge and the overall advancement of healthcare practices must be prioritised to take human healthcare to unprecedented heights.

COMPETING  INTEREST:
The  author  declared  no  conflict  of  interest.

AUTHOR’S  CONTRIBUTION:     
NA: Conception and design of the work, revision for important intellectual  content,  and  final  approval.

REFERENCES

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2. Use of AI in medical publishing. Can Urol Assoc J 2023; 17(4):79-80. doi: 10.5489/cuaj.8339.
3. Ivey C, Crum J. Choosing the right citation management tool: Endnote, mendeley, refworks, or zotero. J Med Libr Assoc 2018; 106(3):399–403. doi: 10.5195/jmla.2018.468.
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