Knowledge, Readiness, and Perception of Medical Students Toward Medical Artificial Intelligence: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Given recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) in medical education and healthcare, it is essential to examine the perceptions and readiness of medical students. As future medical professionals, their ability to utilize this emerging technology effectively is crucial. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine medical AI knowledge, readiness, and perceptions among medical students in medical education and healthcare, and the risks and disadvantages associated with it in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among Iranian medical students in 2025. The questionnaire used in this study consisted of three parts: the first part, socio-demographic characteristics; the second part, basic knowledge and students' perceptions of medical education, healthcare, and risks and disadvantages of medical AI; and the third part, students' readiness for medical AI. The data were analyzed using SPSS 22 and Excel 2019 software. Results: Of the total 280 medical students participating in the present study, 55.4% were female, and 60% were in the preclinical phase. The results showed that respondents demonstrated greater AI readiness in the dimensions of vision and ethics and possessed a high level of knowledge regarding the terms "artificial intelligence," "neural networks," and "deep learning." More than 70% of respondents reported a high perception of medical AI in its three dimensions. A significant relationship exists between the medical AI readiness score and gender, working family/close friends, knowledge of AI, and three dimensions of students' perceptions of medical AI. Conclusion: Enhancing students' knowledge, readiness, and understanding of medical AI can equip professionals with improved medical and decision-making skills. These professionals can make more informed decisions and reduce medical errors with AI tools.