The Perceptions of Medical Physicists Towards Relevance and Impact of Artificial Intelligence

Abstract Artificial intelligence (AI) is an innovative tool that is revolutionising healthcare and medical physics, possibly impacting clinical practices, research, and the profession. The relevance of AI and its impact on the clinical practice and routine of professionals in medical physics were evaluated by medical physicists and researchers in this field. An online survey questionnaire was designed for distribution to professionals and students in medical physics around the world. In addition to demographics questions, we surveyed opinions on the role of AI in medical physicists’ practice, the possibility of AI threatening/disrupting the medical physicists’ practice and career, the need for medical physicists to acquire knowledge on AI, and the need for teaching AI in postgraduate medical physics programmes. The level of knowledge of medical physicists on AI was also consulted. A total of 1019 responders from 94 countries participated. More than 85% of the responders agree that AI will play an essential role in medical physicists’ practice. AI should be taught in the postgraduate medical physics programmes, and that more applications such as quality control, treatment planning will be performed by AI. Half of them thought AI would not threaten/disrupt the medical physicists’ practice. AI knowledge was mainly acquired through self-taught and work-related activities. Nonetheless, many (40%) admitted that they have no skill in AI. The general perception of medical physicists is that AI is here to stay, and it will influence our practice. Medical physicists should be prepared with education and training for this new reality.