Personality traits, technology affinity, and artificial intelligence readiness in medical students: a multinational...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Artificial Intelligence
• Psychology

Background:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) integration in clinical practice and medical education is growing.
• Psychological factors influencing medical students' AI readiness are not well understood.
• No prior study has simultaneously assessed personality traits, technology affinity, and AI readiness in a single cohort.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the psychological determinants of medical students' readiness for artificial intelligence.
• To examine the independent contributions of personality traits and technology affinity to AI readiness.
• To inform the development of AI curricula in medical education.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional online survey was administered to medical students across six continents.
• Participants completed self-report instruments: Medical Artificial Intelligence Readiness Scale (MAIRS-MS), Big Five Inventory-10, and Affinity for Technology Interaction scale.
• Data were analyzed using Pearson correlations, multiple linear regression, and ANOVA.

Main Results:

• Of 1,920 respondents, 1,278 formed the analytic sample (66.5%).
• Openness and agreeableness personality traits significantly correlated with AI readiness subscales.
• Male gender, openness, and agreeableness independently predicted overall AI readiness; technology affinity did not.
• Men reported higher overall AI readiness, while women scored higher on ethical awareness.

Conclusions:

• Personality traits are independently associated with AI readiness in medical students.
• Technology affinity showed association only at the bivariate level, not independently.
• Medical AI curricula should incorporate differentiated instructional strategies tailored to students' psychological profiles.