Beyond the Hype: Why High-Quality AI Research Matters for Medical Education and Patient Care

Date: Saturday, 26 September 2026 | Time: 1635 – 1720 | Venue: The NAK Auditorium, Academia (SGH Campus)

Track Type: Plenary

Speaker:

Overview:

Artificial intelligence is rapidly entering clinical practice and medical education, often ahead of the evidence needed to guide its safe, effective use. While AI promises efficiency, personalisation, and decision support, poorly designed, implemented or evaluated AI systems risk amplifying bias, eroding clinical judgement, and introducing new threats to patient safety. This talk will argue that high-quality AI research is essential not only for developing effective tools, but for understanding how learners and clinicians learn with, from, and despite AI. The presentation will address key challenges in AI research for medical education and practice, including evaluating complex socio-technical systems, managing bias and equity, ensuring transparency and trust, and balancing innovation with regulation and professional accountability.

The objectives of this talk are to encourage colleagues to critically appraise AI research, distinguish evidence from enthusiasm, and engage with AI as a tool that must be studied, governed, and integrated with the same rigour we expect of any intervention that affects how doctors are trained, and patients are cared for.