Abstract
Objective: To assess undergraduate medical students' awareness, use, perceptions, and impediments to AI across different academic years.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study of 410 undergraduate medical students from all academic years was undertaken using a standardized questionnaire. Data were analyzed to determine AI usage trends, perceived benefits, concerns, and interest in training.
Results: The participant group was predominantly female, accounting for 60% of the sample. When comparing students in the first to fourth years, differences were observed in familiarity, perceived importance, and frequency of AI use; however, these differences were not statistically significant (p-values: 0.454, 0.345, and 0.230, respectively). The most frequently reported concerns included ethical considerations (37%), issues related to reliability and accuracy (29%), and the potential negative impact on critical thinking skills (27%). Despite having limited exposure to formal AI training, students expressed a strong interest in incorporating structured AI-related education into their curriculum.
Conclusion: This study highlights a clear and growing awareness of AI among medical students, yet also reveals critical gaps in perception, training, and integration into the medical curriculum. Concerns regarding data privacy, reduced critical thinking, and potential impacts on professional roles, students largely perceive AI as a supportive adjunct rather than a replacement for physicians.

Key words: Artificial Intelligence, medical students, perception, awareness, curriculum.