Objective To explore the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) tool-assisted scientific research on the scientific research innovation ability of medical master students.

Methods General data questionnaire, AI tool-assisted research questionnaire, research efficacy scale, critical thinking ability scale, and scientific research innovation ability scale were used to conduct a cross-sectional survey of medical master students in 4 medical universities in Anhui province.

Results Proportion of medical master students who used AI tool to assist scientific research was 87.66% (625/713), and the proportion of frequency of using AI tool to assist scientific research ranged from rarely to frequently, accounting for 10.56% (66/625), 21.92% (137/625), 44.16% (276/625), 16.16% (101/625), and 7.20% (45/625), respectively. The familiarity level of using AI tool to assist scientific research ranged from very unfamility to very famility, accounting for 4.48% (28/625), 11.52% (72/625), 50.08% (313/625), 27.20% (70/625), and 6.72% (42/625), respectively. The research efficacy, critical thinking ability, and research innovation ability of medical master students who have used AI tool to assist research were increased significantly compared with those have not used AI tool (P＜0.01). Correlation analysis showed that there was a pairwise positive correlation between the use of AI tool-assisted scientific research and research efficacy, critical thinking ability, and research innovation ability (P＜0.01). The results of structural equation model and mediating effect testing implied that research efficacy and critical thinking ability played a chain mediating effect between the use of AI tool to assist research and research innovation ability, with mediating effect accounting for 42.08% of the total effect.

Conclusions The use of AI tool to assist scientific research can effectively improve scientific research innovation ability of medical master students, and achieve technical empowerment. The breadth and depth of AI-assisted scientific research for medical master students need to be further explored.