AAP issues guidance for safe and equitable pediatric use of generative AI
· News-MedicalThe American Academy of Pediatrics has published guidance for pediatricians on the safe, equitable, and effective use of generative artificial intelligence (AI), acknowledging that the rapidly emerging tools offer both promise and risk.
Most generative AI tools get trained on data where children are underrepresented, and few are rigorously evaluated in pediatrics specifically. Developers should prioritize ways to ethically and safely incorporate pediatric datasets, address bias, and put into place strong data privacy and security safeguards that recognize children's developmental differences and family-centered needs, according to AAP. The policy statement encourages development of AI tools that represent various races, ethnicities, languages, abilities, and socioeconomic statuses to avoid exacerbating health disparities.
The AAP Council on Clinical Information Technology and AAP Section on Innovation in Therapeutics and Technology developed the policy statement. All policy statements created by AAP are written by medical experts, reflect the latest evidence in the field, and go through several rounds of peer review before being approved by the AAP Board of Directors and published in Pediatrics.
The policy statement addresses only the use of Generative AI to support clinical care of pediatric patients. It does not address the direct use of AI by children, adolescents and families. AAP is developing a separate set of guidance for family use, touching on some issues in a statement here.
"Generative AI is already providing real value to pediatricians, and it's improving at an incredible pace," Dr. Hunter said. "But what makes this moment in healthcare so interesting and unusual is that adoption is often moving faster than the evidence on how to use these tools effectively is being produced. We hope this statement gives pediatricians a framework for thinking about AI implementation as that evidence catches up."
Clinicians, developers, researchers, and families can collaborate to ensure GenAI tools are thoughtfully designed and implemented. An interdisciplinary approach will help to align innovation with real-world pediatric needs, according to AAP.
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