Artificial Intelligence has existed for decades, but it gained widespread attention in 2022 with the launch of ChatGPT by OpenAI. This development sparked significant interest in the potential of generative AI (GenAI) and other AI technologies, particularly in public health. However, many public health entities—including nonprofits and government agencies—approach AI cautiously or avoid it altogether due to limited technical expertise, unclear guidelines and concerns about ethical, social and legal implications.

This webinar will introduce attendees to the new, Developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policies for Public Health Organizations: A Template and Guidance, designed specifically to help public health organizations create policies that encourage ethical AI experimentation to improve efficiency, enhance the quality of work and advance organizational goals. Developed through a collaboration between the Kansas Health Institute, Health Resources in Action, and Wichita State University’s Community Engagement Institute—with funding from the CDC Public Health Infrastructure Grant—the template incorporates an emphasis on centering equity throughout the AI policy development process.

Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the template, including:

• Approaches that address bias mitigation, transparency and other key issues.
• Sample provisions and hypothetical use cases to demonstrate real-world applications.
• Strategies for building a thoughtful rationale for adopting AI in public health.

The webinar will also provide an overview of the template’s development process, including lessons learned from using AI tools for an environmental scan and literature review. Presenters will share insights to help attendees understand the template’s practical applications and potential limitations.

The session will conclude with a Q&A, offering attendees the opportunity to share feedback and discuss considerations for implementing the resource.