Stanford Medicine research explores the promise and perils of AI in citizen science

Study investigates how AI can advance health equity through community-based research

2025-03-13

(Press-News.org) (Toronto, March 13, 2025) A new study published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance by a team from Stanford Medicine investigates the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize citizen science and advance health equity. The study, titled “The Promise and Perils of Artificial Intelligence in Advancing Participatory Science and Health Equity in Public Health,” explores how AI technologies can empower communities to actively participate in scientific research and addresses critical ethical considerations.

This research, published by JMIR Publications, examines the potential of AI to significantly enhance citizen science by enabling more inclusive and impactful projects, ultimately aiming to advance health equity and public health outcomes.

Several promising AI applications are discussed in the study, including:

Conversational AI: Large language models can facilitate more accessible and engaging interactions between researchers and citizen scientists, breaking down communication barriers and enabling more inclusive participation.

Generative AI: Tools like text-to-image AI can assist in data visualization, making research findings more understandable and engaging for the public.

Predictive analytics: AI can analyze large datasets to identify trends and predict potential public health risks, empowering communities to proactively address emerging challenges.

The study also acknowledges the potential risks associated with using AI in citizen science, such as bias in AI algorithms, data privacy concerns, and the potential for AI to exacerbate existing inequalities. The researchers emphasize the importance of responsible AI development and implementation, including robust ethical frameworks and ongoing community engagement.

To help explain the research, one of the authors has provided a video discussion of the paper's key points.

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About JMIR Publications:

JMIR Publications is a leading open access publisher of digital health research and a champion of open science. With a focus on author advocacy and research amplification, JMIR Publications partners with researchers to advance their careers and maximize the impact of their work. As a technology organization with publishing at its core, we provide innovative tools and resources that go beyond traditional publishing, supporting researchers at every step of the dissemination process. Our portfolio features a range of peer-reviewed journals, including the renowned Journal of Medical Internet Research.

To learn more about JMIR Publications, please visit jmirpublications.com or connect with us via Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

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Media contact: communications@jmir.org

The content of this communication is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, published by JMIR Publications, is properly cited.

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