A commentary from the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Perspectives discusses how artificial intelligence is increasingly used in health care by both institutions (e.g., clinical workflow tools) and by patients and care partners (often through generative AI). The authors introduce Critical AI Health Literacy as a skill set focused on using AI strategically to evaluate outputs for bias and institutional alignment, understand how “health AI” can influence care, and support informed action and advocacy. The commentary also describes equity and implementation considerations, including unequal access to AI tools and digital connectivity, as well as privacy concerns (noting that some commercial AI tools may not be HIPAA-compliant and that user-entered data may be stored or disclosed).The article provides a framework and terminology that can be used when discussing AI-enabled tools in public health and health care, including community-facing education, patient communication, and considerations related to equity, privacy, and bias.

Learn more: Critical AI Health Literacy as Liberation Technology: A New Skill for Patient Empowerment.