Artificial intelligence (AI) is applied to medicine and healthcare rapidly and becomes the frontier of medical innovation. It will bring great changes for traditional practices of medicine, health, and care. Based on investigation of frontier research, the paper sorted out the international development of medical AI for its innovations and application prospects. From the perspective of ‘public understanding of science’, public recognition and acceptance are crucial factors for the successful clinical application of medical AI. Therefore, various stakeholders from government, professional bodies, AI developers and other institutions should work together to provide channels for the public to participate in and understand the actual abilities as well as potential risks of medical AI. A sound regulatory system should be built so that the development of medical AI would conform to legal norms and ethical observance, and could obtain broad public support.

artificial intelligence  /  medicine and healthcare  /  public understanding  /  public trust