Benefits and risks of using artificial intelligence for pharmaceutical development and delivery

WHO recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) holds great promise for pharmaceutical development and delivery. However, AI also presents risks and ethical challenges that must be addressed if societies, health systems and individuals are to fully reap its benefits. This discussion paper examines the expanding application of AI to each step of development and deployment of medicines and vaccines. AI is already used in most steps of pharmaceutical development, and, in the future, it is likely that nearly all pharmaceutical products that come to market will have been “touched” by AI at some point in their development, approval or marketing. Although these uses of AI may have a commercial benefit, it is imperative that use of AI also has public health benefit and appropriate governance.