Mind the (widening) gap: why public health must engage with AI now

IF 3.2 3区医学 Q1 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Public Health Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2025-11-12 DOI:10.1016/j.puhe.2025.106047

Paula del Rey Puech , Rebecca Payne , Jasjot Saund , Martin McKee

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

This commentary aims to highlight the opportunities and challenges that Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents for public health.

Study design

Narrative commentary and conceptual analysis.

Methods

The commentary draws on material developed for a forthcoming book by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. Sources were selected to highlight both the potential and the limitations of AI integration at population levels, with a focus on equity, governance, and implementation. The analysis is informed by established public health principles: prevention, systems thinking, and the social determinants of health.

Results

AI applications in public health go beyond process automation and operational efficiency. By integrating and processing diverse, multi-modal data sources, its implementation presents opportunities to understand the wider determinants of health at a more nuanced level and identify populations at risk with greater precision. Additionally, AI has the potential to help understand and support behaviour change in sophisticated ways, enhance disease surveillance and modelling, and enable more targeted and responsive public communication and engagement strategies. However, there are several barriers to realise AI's potential in public health, including system fragmentation, data access limitations, resource constraints, implementation challenges, workforce readiness gaps, and technological limitations such as bias and generative AI “hallucinations”.

Conclusion

Without deliberate engagement, AI risks reinforcing existing inequities. Practical steps for action include embedding AI training in public health education, building multidisciplinary teams, investing in data infrastructure, and ensuring participatory approaches. AI will continue to shape public health systems, whether or not public health professionals engage. We argue that the public health community is both uniquely positioned and ethically obligated to engage proactively with AI.

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注意（不断扩大的）差距：为什么公共卫生现在必须与人工智能合作

本评论旨在强调人工智能（AI）为公共卫生带来的机遇和挑战。研究设计：叙事评论与概念分析。方法本评论引用了欧洲卫生系统和政策观察站即将出版的一本书的材料。选择的来源是为了突出人工智能在人口水平上整合的潜力和局限性，重点是公平、治理和实施。该分析以既定的公共卫生原则为依据：预防、系统思考和健康的社会决定因素。结果人工智能在公共卫生领域的应用超越了流程自动化和操作效率。通过整合和处理多样化、多模式的数据来源，它的实施提供了机会，可以在更细微的层面上了解更广泛的健康决定因素，并更准确地确定面临风险的人群。此外，人工智能有潜力以复杂的方式帮助理解和支持行为改变，加强疾病监测和建模，并实现更有针对性和响应性的公共沟通和参与战略。然而，实现人工智能在公共卫生方面的潜力存在一些障碍，包括系统碎片化、数据访问限制、资源限制、实施挑战、劳动力准备差距以及偏见和生成式人工智能“幻觉”等技术限制。如果没有深思熟虑的参与，人工智能有可能加剧现有的不平等。实际行动步骤包括将人工智能培训纳入公共卫生教育、建立多学科团队、投资于数据基础设施以及确保参与性方法。人工智能将继续影响公共卫生系统，无论公共卫生专业人员是否参与。我们认为，公共卫生界既具有独特的地位，也有道德义务积极参与人工智能。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Public Health 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

7.60

自引率

0.00%

发文量

280

审稿时长

37 days

期刊介绍： Public Health is an international, multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal. It publishes original papers, reviews and short reports on all aspects of the science, philosophy, and practice of public health.