A recent Saudi study revealed that medical students are ahead of doctors in using generative artificial intelligence tools for scientific research, with a usage rate of 73% among students compared to 59% among doctors, and a clear difference in the tools, tasks, and concerns associated with these technologies.

The study showed that 95% of medical students had used ChatGPT, compared to 81% of doctors, while doctors turned more to other generative AI platforms at 48% versus 29% for students, with statistically significant differences.

The study was published in the International Journal of Medical Informatics under the title: 'The Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Medical Research: A Comparison Between Medical Students and Doctors in Saudi Arabia.'

The researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey between April 19 and July 7, 2025, involving 417 participants, including 182 doctors working in major Saudi academic hospitals and 235 medical students from six universities in different regions of the Kingdom. Responses were collected electronically and in the field via links and QR codes, using a validated questionnaire to measure research experience, usage patterns, expected benefits, and ethical concerns.

The study noted a difference in the nature of the tasks for which both parties used AI; 81% of doctors used the tools for academic writing, while 75% of students used them to summarize research results and information. This difference indicates that doctors see AI as an assistant in constructing and formulating scientific texts, while students often use it as a quick tool to simplify content and extract key points, reflecting the difference in experience and research responsibilities between the two groups.

Improving Overall Work Quality

The study found high acceptance of the technology's ease of use; 99% of students and 89% of doctors believed that learning to use ChatGPT is easy. Additionally, 85% of students and 80% of doctors reported that the tools enhanced the efficiency of research work.

Regarding time-saving, the rate was 91% among doctors compared to 84% among students, while 77% of students and 74% of doctors felt that AI contributed to improving the overall quality of work.

Despite the widespread adoption, the results revealed a difference in sources of concern; 73% of doctors expressed worries related to data privacy, especially when entering unpublished medical or research information into external platforms, while 77% of students prioritized the accuracy and reliability of the answers as their main challenges.

These concerns highlight the need to prevent the input of patient data or confidential files into public tools, verify the information and references produced by the platforms, and disclose their use in preparing research, while keeping human review as an inherent responsibility of the researcher.

The researchers concluded that doctors and medical students are adopting artificial intelligence at an accelerated pace, with practical usage outpacing regulatory and training frameworks, which necessitates the development of clear policies and training programs to ensure responsible use and protect scientific integrity and privacy.

The study was funded by the Continuous Research Funding Program for Research Chairs at King Saud University.