ABSTRACT Background: The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare necessitates an understanding of medical interns’ preparedness to engage with AI-enabled systems. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and readiness of medical interns toward AI in healthcare to inform the need for a structured elective course. Study Design and Methodology: A cross-sectional and observational study was conducted over 6 months, among 141 MBBS interns at a tertiary care teaching institute in Vadodara, India. The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee. Data were collected using a structured Google-based questionnaire assessing AI knowledge and attitudes, along with the validated Medical AI Readiness Scale for Medical Students (MAIRS-MS). Results: The mean age of the participants was 23.11 years, with 56% males. Only 27.7% had received formal education on AI and 72.3% had not engaged in AI-related discussions during internship. While 78.7% demonstrated adequate basic knowledge of AI concepts, attitudes were mixed: 44.7% viewed AI as transformative for healthcare and 36.2% reported ethical concerns. Only 34.8% expressed confidence in working with AI. MAIRS-MS scores indicated foundational knowledge with variable readiness across domains. Conclusion: Medical interns demonstrated basic knowledge of AI, gaps in confidence, and readiness for clinical application persist. These findings support the need for targeted educational interventions, including an elective course in AI, to better prepare future medical professionals for the integration of AI in healthcare.
Bardolia et al. (Thu,) studied this question.