Today, the traditional context and method of education have changed, marking the beginning of the digital era in education. The use of new technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), simulators, and artificial intelligence (AI), is a key factor in improving the quality of education and learning outcomes. These technologies have become criteria for the accreditation of educational and health treatment systems, leading to a practical shift in the education model, including in medical science education and treatments.
On the other hand,todayʹs generation of students is also different from the past. They have been born into a technological age and have grown up with technology, which shapes their educational needs and expectations. This generation needs the type of education that is provided through technologies are accustomed to and have immersed themselves in throughout their lives.
Studies show that the greater the level of purposeful, responsible, and structured integration of technology in an educational course, the more it leads to increased engagement with the curriculum and simultaneous improvements in learning outcomes. Therefore, given the changes that have occurred in the cultural paradigm of this generation and the new social structures that have emerged, the integration of technology into technology-based teaching and learning can lead to the enhancement of the teaching process and the improvement of learners' learning at all levels.
There are many examples of new technologies that can be used in the teaching-learning process, including mobile learning(ML), VR, AR, and AI, which is the greatest technological advancement of today's era (1).
The history of AI dates back to about 6 decades ago; however, the remarkable advances in AI, especially in the areas of deep learning and large-scale data digitalization, in the last decade have led to an unexpected leap and progress in education, including medical education, and are being employed as a new solution to improve education.
Medical education is experiencing a period of objective transformation, relying on new approaches to AI and new educational technologies. These developments have improved the teaching-learning process, reduced the risk for the learner and the patient during the learning process, and decreased the costs of medical education. However, alongside the exponential increase in the use of this technology, it is essential to ensure that AI can meet real educational needs. At the same time, challenges and potential risks associated with its use in education must be addressed. It is also crucial to ensure the ethical, responsible, and equitable use of AI in education. Therefore, learners and educators must be trained and prepared for the appropriate use of AI.
In the new era, AI has provided new abilities and capabilities in educational environments and in learning, including identifying inclusive educational needs, facilitating teachers' tasks, producing attractive multimedia educational content tailored to the specific interests and needs of the learner, personalized learning, and interaction-based learning. However, it is also accompanied by unique challenges, the main of which are a reduction in human interactions in the educational process, diminished thinking and creativity abilities, the impact on the correct formation of professional identity, academic fraud, bias in the allocation of data and resources, and the challenge of ensuring the accuracy of data. In addition to the above, the use of AI in education and learning may also face other issues, such as infrastructural limitations and a shortage of trained and skilled human resources (2).
Adhering to ethical considerations and the ethical use of AI in the educational process is also an unavoidable necessity. It is necessary to pay attention to the ethical challenges related to the privacy of individuals (individuals, patients) in educational environments, to explain the responsibility of human teachers and trainers against the AI-based education system, and to ensure that there is justice in access to appropriate educational resources. Unintended social impacts of AI should be avoided, and attention should be paid to situations in which observance of moral and social values ​​is required.
There is no doubt that in order to create an ethical educational environment in the world of AI, the necessary standards should be set for this purpose, and appropriate policies should be formulated. As a result, education integrated with new technologies, especially AI, can become a powerful tool for increasing quality and achieving better outcomes.
Although the integration of AI in medical education has provided numerous opportunities for improving the teaching-learning process, the role and importance of the presence of experienced and knowledgeable human trainers and teachers in the responsible and effective use of this technology in the educational process is still highly important and cannot be underestimated. In other words, trained, capable, and knowledgeable teachers (in the effective and responsible use of AI) can better facilitate learning in educational environments. Therefore, it seems that AI can help intelligent and wise people who are familiar with the principles of correctly applying this technology in the workplace and in professional activities, which can lead to better outcomes.