RESPONSIBLE INTEGRATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN PHARMACY EDUCATION AND TRAINING

To advocate for the responsible integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into pharmacy education and training programs to support learner development and practice readiness; further, 

To advocate for development of competencies for discerning AI-generated content, including strategies to validate the accuracy, credibility, and applicability of information produced by AI systems; further, 

To collaborate on the development of standards for AI use in pharmacy education and training.

Rationale

AI has the potential to evolve education and the learning environment by delivering personalized experiences, simulating clinical decision-making, and expanding access to knowledge resources. Conversely, AI also introduces unique challenges related to academic integrity, validation of information, learner overreliance, and responsible application, such as generative AI, which uses AI to create original content.

Emerging platforms which leverage AI to analyze, synthesize, and present clinical literature demonstrate both the potential value and the risks of integrating AI into the education and training of future healthcare professionals. In a recent JAMA article, Building the AI-Enabled Medical School of the Future, the authors highlight that academic institutions must move quickly to embed AI literacy, validation skills, and ethical awareness into curricula to ensure learners are equipped for practice in AI-enabled health systems.

This pharmacy education and training-focused policy will emphasize the need to equip learners with skills to critically evaluate and responsibly apply AI outputs, prepare future practitioners with competencies to navigate AI-enabled health systems, support faculty and preceptors in integrating AI appropriately into teaching, learner assessment and professional development activities, and establish safeguards to ensure integrity and alignment with professional values.