From the World Wide Web to AI: Why We Must Learn From Our Past to Transform the Future of Medical Education

Abstract

In 1989, the World Wide Web was proposed as a practical solution to connect scientists globally. That innovation later transformed how knowledge was accessed and shared across all sectors, including health care and education. While initially met with skepticism, the web ultimately revolutionized broad sectors including health care and education. The web reimagined medical education and enabled digital learning platforms, open-access resources, and new forms of collaboration. A new paradigm, artificial intelligence (AI)-particularly generative AI, is now poised to redefine how knowledge is created, synthesized, and applied in medical education and health care.This commentary draws parallels between medical educators' initial resistance to the Web and current hesitations with AI. Current concerns are echoing our past, such as misinformation and lack of credibility, technology replacing traditional teaching, inequity in access to the new technologies, and doubts about learning efficacy. We argue that these lessons learned from the web era offer important insights into the ways AI in and for medical education will benefit our community.The authors build on insights and recommendations from the November 2024 Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation conference on AI in medical education, emphasizing the urgent need for a national set of AI competencies for and in medical education. These competencies should include knowledge of AI tools, their evaluation and ethical use, and their integration into clinical and educational processes.Ultimately, an AI-drive future is not predetermined-it is ours to shape. By learning from the past, medical educators can more effectively lead the ethical and equitable adoption of AI, ensuring it strengthens CBME and enhances the preparation of future physicians. This work represents both a challenge and an exciting opportunity to define the next chapter in the evolution of medical education.

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