Scientific communication in artificial intelligence in health: challenges and solutions

• Grant number: 25/06441-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Journalism
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Communications
• Principal Investigator: Alexandre Dias Porto Chiavegatto Filho
• Grantee: Sabrina Lima de Jesus
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Faculdade De Saúde Pública/Usp, Brazil

Abstract

The Laboratory of Big Data and Predictive Analysis in Health (LABDAPS), part of the School of Public Health at the University of São Paulo (FSP-USP), celebrated eight years of activity in 2025. Over this period, it has published more than 50 scientific articles in national and international journals and trained 25 students, who now work as faculty in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) in health at institutions both in Brazil and abroad. The laboratory's goals include conducting research on the application of machine learning algorithms to improve health decision-making, evaluating the impact of public policies on the quality of health services, and expanding access to scientific knowledge and information about AI in health. However, this last goal faces the challenging task of combating scientific misinformation that spreads through social media and favors sensationalist content-often shared by influencers without scientific training and amplified by algorithms that prioritize engagement over accuracy. This contributes to misinterpretations about the use of AI in healthcare, creating public insecurity and distrust. According to the 2023 Public Perception of Science and Technology in Brazil survey, conducted by the Center for Strategic Studies and Management (CGEE), 60.3% of Brazilians are interested in science and technology, and 77.9% in medicine and health. These data suggest that there is a receptive audience for technological applications in healthcare. In this context, LABDAPS's current initiatives include the production of educational content in various formats (videos, stories), such as the series Por Dentro do Código, the interactive segment LABDAPS Responde, article press releases, and weekly discussions in the Journal Club. This project aims to strengthen and expand science communication efforts about AI in health in Brazil, promoting qualified and accessible information as a central strategy to counter misinformation in the field. (AU)