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. 2023 Jun 1:9:e48291.
doi: 10.2196/48291.

Large Language Models in Medical Education: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Directions

Alaa Abd-Alrazaq  1 , Rawan AlSaad  1   2 , Dari Alhuwail  3 , Arfan Ahmed  1 , Padraig Mark Healy  4 , Syed Latifi  4 , Sarah Aziz  1 , Rafat Damseh  5 , Sadam Alabed Alrazak  6 , Javaid Sheikh  1
Affiliations

Large Language Models in Medical Education: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Directions

Alaa Abd-Alrazaq et al. JMIR Med Educ. .

Abstract

The integration of large language models (LLMs), such as those in the Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT) series, into medical education has the potential to transform learning experiences for students and elevate their knowledge, skills, and competence. Drawing on a wealth of professional and academic experience, we propose that LLMs hold promise for revolutionizing medical curriculum development, teaching methodologies, personalized study plans and learning materials, student assessments, and more. However, we also critically examine the challenges that such integration might pose by addressing issues of algorithmic bias, overreliance, plagiarism, misinformation, inequity, privacy, and copyright concerns in medical education. As we navigate the shift from an information-driven educational paradigm to an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven educational paradigm, we argue that it is paramount to understand both the potential and the pitfalls of LLMs in medical education. This paper thus offers our perspective on the opportunities and challenges of using LLMs in this context. We believe that the insights gleaned from this analysis will serve as a foundation for future recommendations and best practices in the field, fostering the responsible and effective use of AI technologies in medical education.

Keywords: ChatGPT; GPT-4; artificial intelligence; educators; generative AI; large language models; medical education; students.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: A Abd-alrazaq is an Associate Editor of JMIR Nursing at the time of this publication. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Opportunities of large language models in medical education.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Challenges of large language models in medical education.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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