Perceptions and use of artificial intelligence among college students in Imphal West, Manipur, India: A cross-sectional study

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) includes technologies that perform tasks requiring human-like thinking. AI now plays a major role in healthcare, supporting diagnosis, clinical decisions, and patient care. As future health professionals, medical students, like other students, need a basic understanding of AI to use it responsibly. This study assesses the knowledge, attitudes, and use of AI among college students. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2023 to January 2024 among 465 undergraduate students, selected conveniently, from three colleges in the Imphal West district of Manipur. Data were collected using a self-administered, structured questionnaire in Google Forms. Descriptive statistics, chi-squared test, t test, and analysis of variance were applied using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the participants was 20.1 ± 1.9 years, and nearly half were females. Most students (291,62.6%) had inadequate knowledge of AI, and 197 (55%) participants had favorable attitudes toward AI. Among participants, 63.9% had used AI in their day-to-day lives, and 56.3% had used it for academics. Knowledge and use of AI were significantly higher among males ( P < 0.001) and engineering students ( P < 0.001). Knowledge and use were significantly higher among participants who attended previous training on AI ( P < 0.000). Conclusions: The study showed that only 4 in 10 students had adequate knowledge of AI, with engineering students having significantly greater knowledge and usage than medical students. Given AI’s expanding role in the technology-driven healthcare system, familiarizing future healthcare professionals with the basics of AI and its applications in the medical curriculum is essential to prepare them better.