KEY TAKEAWAYS
- North America, Europe, and Oceania are global leaders for the output of high-quality AI-powered life science research.
- International collaboration may be key to unlocking AI’s full potential.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in life science research is rising exponentially, from aiding drug development to assisting in the publication process. However, geographical imbalances in AI use could lead to biased models and implications for medical care.
Geographical variation
In an article for Nature Communications, Dr Leo Schmallenbach and colleagues evaluated the geographical spread of AI-related life science research. Their analysis revealed geographical differences in the quantity, quality, and relevance of AI-related life science research.
- Quantity: The USA and China published the largest share of research, while countries in Africa and Latin America lagged behind. In 2020, China surpassed the USA to lead the world in the number of AI-related life science publications per year, making Asia the continent with the largest cumulative output.
- Quality: Northern America, Europe, and Oceania had a greater proportion of research published in high-ranking journals than Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
- Relevance: Publications from Oceania, Europe, and Northern America were more frequently cited in life science and clinical research articles than those from Asia.
“Analysis revealed geographical differences in the quantity, quality, and relevance of AI-related life science research.”
International collaboration is key to success
The authors also compared research stemming from national versus international collaborations, with international collaborations defined as articles with authorship across 2 or more countries. International research collaborations were 35% more likely to be published in high-ranking journals and received 21% more citations in life science articles.
Speaking to Global Health Otherwise, Dr Schmallenbach concluded that “international collaboration is critical to unlocking the full potential of AI in healthcare” and called for policies encouraging more international partnerships.
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