This artificial intelligence (AI) Industry Insights focuses on the latest position statements on the use of in MedComms from leading professional organisations: the International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP), the Healthcare Communications Association (HCA), and the Medical Affairs Professional Society (MAPS).
The International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP) has released a position statement and a call to action on AI. The statement provides guidance on the appropriate use of AI for professionals in the communications and medical publishing industry. The ISMPP endorses ethical and responsible use of AI, adherence to best practices, and disclosure when AI is used to aid with writing, editing, and content creation. There is also a focus on limiting bias, countering misconceptions about AI, while maintaining confidentiality and transparency. ISMPP encourages its members to become educated about AI and improve their AI literacy as well as engage in AI policy development because of their valuable links between patients, healthcare professionals, and the medical science industry.
Waiting to engage with AI is not an option and completely restricting the use of AI in an organisation should be done with caution, according to the Healthcare Communications Association (HCA). The HCA recently published a position paper in the Current Medical Research and Opinion (ICMO) journal on the adoption and use of AI in healthcare communications. The AI Roadmap – charting our future in healthcare communications discusses principles that can help guide the journey towards embedding AI and unlocking its potential. The HCA views AI as potentially “the defining innovation in our professional lives”. Like the ISMPP position statement, the HCA calls for ethical and responsible use of AI, confidentiality, and transparency. Company AI policies that encourage innovation and provide protection and guidance around the use of AI are essential.
This white paper by the Medical Affairs Professional Society (MAPS)provides a vision on how generative AI technology will shape the practice of medical affairs focusing on four areas: strategy and leadership, evidence and insights generation, evidence and insights communication, and partnerships. For each of these areas, MAPS expands on each topic providing helpful example use cases and challenges. They conclude with the statement that generative AI technology will not only transform how medical affairs accomplishes its current activities but also expand the function’s possibilities. This highlights how we need to remain engaged with the emergent applications of generative AI.
