Artificial intelligence for public health: Priorities for successful use by public health organizations

Abstract Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve public health surveillance, health promotion, and population health management through improved targeting of interventions and policy to populations that are most in need, known as precision public health. To successfully realize this potential and use AI for public health functions it is important for public health organizations to thoughtfully develop strategies for AI implementation. Five key priorities for successful use of AI technologies by public health organizations are discussed in this commentary: 1) Contemporary data governance; 2) Investment in modernized data and analytic infrastructure and procedures; 3) Addressing the skills gap; 4) Development of strategic collaborative partnerships, and; 5) Use of AI best practices including explicit consideration of equity.