Background: The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into healthcare systems has introduced substantial advancements in clinical and pharmaceutical practices. As future healthcare providers, pharmacy students are expected to engage with AI-enabled tools; however, limited empirical data are available on their familiarity with and attitudes toward, AI technologies. Objective: This study aimed to assess pharmacy students’ knowledge of AI, their perceptions of its application in pharmaceutical settings and their intentions to incorporate AI into future practice. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 501 undergraduate pharmacy students in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through a structured, self-administered online questionnaire consisting of demographic variables, AI familiarity, attitudinal measures and future intentions. Descriptive statistics and chi-square (χ2) tests were used to examine associations between demographic characteristics and AI-related attitudes. Results: Of the 501 respondents, 48.61% reported moderate familiarity with AI, with online resources cited as the predominant source of knowledge (75.70%). Approximately 50.6% agreed that AI could reduce medication errors, while 54.98% affirmed that pharmacists would continue to play a critical role despite technological advancements. A total of 62.95% indicated a likelihood of using AI in their future practice. Statistically significant associations were identified between gender, academic year and both AI familiarity and willingness to adopt AI (p<0.001). Conclusion: The findings suggest a generally positive orientation among pharmacy students toward AI in pharmaceutical practice, alongside notable concerns regarding data privacy, job security and ethical implications. These results underscore the need for structured AI education within pharmacy curricula to enhance digital readiness and support responsible integration of AI technologies in future pharmaceutical services.
Alhur et al. (Tue,) studied this question.
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