AI Tools Can Strengthen Medical Education: Google

As the global health workforce faces a projected shortage of over 11 million professionals by 2030, Google explores the potential role of AI in reshaping medical education, aiming to support students and educators in healthcare training.

The company presented two studies on the subject. The first, Generative AI for Medical Education: Insights from a Case Study with Medical Students and an AI Tutor for Clinical Reasoning, published at CHI 2025, examined how medical learners interact with an AI tutor prototype. Using workshops, prototyping, and user studies, researchers observed interest in AI tools that can adjust to individual needs, provide constructive feedback, and encourage critical thinking.

The second study assessed LearnLM, Google’s Gemini-based family of models fine-tuned for learning. Conducted with medical students and physician educators, the research compared LearnLM with a base model through 50 synthetic evaluation scenarios covering preclinical and clinical topics. Across 290 conversations, physician educators consistently preferred LearnLM, particularly for demonstrating pedagogy and behaving more like a skilled human tutor. Students rated LearnLM more positively in terms of overall enjoyment and interaction.

Both studies suggest that generative AI tools can support the development of clinical reasoning skills, while providing scalable alternatives for addressing gaps in health education. No patient data was used in the studies, and the evaluations emphasized responsible implementation with human oversight.

Google presented these findings at the MedEd on the Edge conference, underscoring the need to prepare curricula that not only incorporate AI as a tool but also teach future professionals how to understand and use the technology responsibly. With the integration of LearnLM capabilities into Gemini 2.5 Pro, the company aims to continue collaborating with educators to design personalized learning experiences that strengthen the healthcare workforce.