Geographic imbalances threaten AI progress in life sciences
US and China in the lead
A new study from Mannheim Business School reveals significant geographic disparities in producing Artificial Intelligence (AI) research within the life sciences, potentially hindering progress in this transformative field.
The study, led by Professor Marc Lerchenmüller, Dr Leo Schmallenbach, and Professor Till Bärnighausen of Heidelberg University, highlights that the United States and China accounted for a staggering 45% of all AI life sciences research published between 2000 and 2022.
The life sciences, encompassing essential areas such as biology and medicine, are poised for a revolution in patient care and health outcomes, thanks to AI’s potential.
However, the study underscores that the impact of these advancements is unevenly distributed and heavily skewed towards Asia and Northern America, which dominate in both total publication numbers and high-ranking journal contributions.
Analysing over 390,000 research publications and 14.5 million citations across six world regions, the study found that while Europe and Northern America are responsible for 70% of high-impact research, Latin America and Africa contribute less than 5%—despite housing more than a quarter of the global population.
“If research remains geographically concentrated, data evolves unbalanced,” warns Professor Lerchenmüller. “This imbalance risks creating biased AI models that produce skewed medical recommendations. Given the diverse characteristics of patient populations, a broader range of research and training data is essential to ensure equity in AI-informed medical care.”
Moreover, the findings indicate that international collaborations yield more impactful research than national efforts, receiving 20% more citations on average. However, the trend towards international cooperation is declining, which Dr Schmallenbach identifies as a concerning development.
The study advocates for greater integration of international expertise and collaborative research efforts to harness AI’s full potential in the life sciences and improve global health outcomes.
These critical insights were published in the journal Nature Communications, shedding light on the urgent need for a more equitable distribution of AI research to ensure its benefits reach all corners of the globe.
Featured image: Thanks to AI’s potential, life sciences are poised for a revolution in patient care and health outcomes. Credit: Edward Jenner
