Perspective on Using Artificial Intelligence in Alcohol Research and Treatment: Opportunities and Ethical...

There is an urgent need for novel and innovative advancements in alcohol research and treatment. Artificial intelligence (AI) is one such advancement that demonstrates promise, though not without important ethical concerns. This Perspective article examines current applications, ethical considerations, and future implications of integrating AI in alcohol research and treatment.

A nonsystematic narrative review of peer-reviewed, English-language studies of contemporary applications of AI (specifically, large language models and machine learning) in alcohol research and treatment was conducted in December 2024 through January 2025, using searches of the PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and PsycInfo databases. Search terms included the following: "alcohol," "alcohol use," "alcohol use disorder," "drinking," "treatment," "screening," "artificial intelligence," "chatbot," "large language models," "research subject recruitment," "research subject enrollment," "electronic health records," "support vector machine," "neural network," "black-box," "random forest," and "machine learning." The article highlights studies that discussed the role of AI in bolstering recruitment and retention for human subjects research and in the application of advanced data analytic techniques for alcohol research. Further, the article examines studies that described current and prospective uses of AI in alcohol use disorder treatment, including assessment and identification of individuals who may benefit from treatment, and as an adjunct to evidence-based treatments for alcohol use disorder. Potential ethical concerns are highlighted alongside potential considerations for the safe and ethical use of AI across these domains.

Based on the identified primary and secondary sources, this review highlights the promises of AI in advancing both alcohol research and treatment, and how its successful implementation is supported by careful and ongoing attention to potential risks. The reviewed studies provide evidence that robust data security protocols, comprehensive informed consent, and ongoing monitoring for potential biases and harms can allow for these tools to advance scientific understanding while improving access to effective and equitable care. However, the current literature and the potential solutions suggested in this Perspective have limitations due to the pace of AI advancements that continue to accelerate at an unprecedent rate.

Future research can advance the field by explicitly testing and evaluating the utility of these tools in real-world contexts, their risks for bias and privacy violations, and their ethical integration into alcohol research and treatment.