First EthicalAI Initiative: Open and Collaborative Development of AI Policy for Digital Health Solutions

The introduction of AI in healthcare offers numerous potential benefits and profound implications for the sector and the wider population. Critically, it requires careful consideration of how the technology should be developed and used [1], and what guardrails need to be in place to ensure positive patient outcomes [2]. Furthermore, many technology companies and healthcare organisations (both public and private) are developing AI-related frameworks and policies to satisfy stakeholders or anticipate future regulatory requirements [3]. Meeting these requirements can be a time-consuming and challenging undertaking, often involving the review of published guidelines, standards, and legal frameworks, or adapting publicly available examples that are not well understood or effectively utilised. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an openly available AI ethics framework and policies that facilitate regular updates, feedback, and broad input and enable active discourse among collaborators. This ensures that policies are easily understood and impactful for all stakeholders within the healthcare sector, from those offering digital solutions to those benefiting from care services.

In this case study, the HIGOE team describes a newly designed collaborative initiative, First EthicalAI, with a goal to promote open, ethical, and responsible policy development within healthcare, beginning with an AI ethics framework.