Artificial Intelligence in migrant health: a critical perspective on opportunities and risks

Rapid advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are leading to the proliferation of health applications. AI presents both opportunities and risks for migrants, including refugees, and asylum-seekers. This Personal View provides a critical perspective on opportunities and risks of using AI in migrant health. It synthesises literature insights to highlight the potential health benefits of AI, for both the general population and migrants, in areas including information retrieval, translation, education, empowerment, disease prevention and diagnosis, and personalised treatments. It addresses risks posed by AI, including the potential for tracking and monitoring individuals, which could threaten the anonymity and freedom of those using digital services, as well as the perpetuation or exacerbation of biases in the algorithms used. Current deficiencies in AI, including issues of quality and tendencies to sometimes invent data, as well as to reinforce existing biases and discriminatory processes, may also adversely impact on various groups of migrants coming from different parts of the world, compounding existing ethical challenges. Given the high level of digital infrastructure and opportunities for coherent policy-making and regulatory control within the region, Europe can provide leadership in developing guidelines, policies and agreements ensuring that AI serves migrants' health needs while not compromising their rights.