Joint statement on responsible use of artificial intelligence in evidence synthesis

25 January, 2026

(with thanks to Cochrane PHSPH Newsletter)

'Cochrane, the Campbell Collaboration, JBI, and the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence have published a joint position statement on the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in evidence synthesis. This collaborative effort is an important step in shaping how AI is integrated into the production of high-quality, trustworthy research. You can read the statement on the Cochrane website.'

https://www.cochrane.org/about-us/news/setting-standards-responsible-ai-...

https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.ED000178/full

'Key messages:

1. Evidence synthesists are ultimately responsible for their evidence synthesis, including the decision to use artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, and to ensure adherence to legal and ethical standards.

2. Cochrane, the Campbell Collaboration, JBI and the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence support the aims of the Responsible use of AI in evidence SynthEsis (RAISE) recommendations, which provides a framework for ensuring responsible use of AI and automation across all roles within the evidence synthesis ecosystem.

3. Evidence synthesists developing and publishing syntheses with Cochrane, the Campbell Collaboration, JBI and the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence can use AI and automation as long as they can demonstrate that it will not compromise the methodological rigour or integrity of their synthesis.

4. AI and automation in evidence synthesis should be used with human oversight.

5. Any use of AI or automation that makes or suggests judgements should be fully and transparently reported in the evidence synthesis report.

6. AI tool developers should proactively ensure their AI systems or tools adhere to the RAISE recommendations so we have clear, transparent and publicly available information to inform decisions about whether an AI system or tool could and should be used in evidence synthesis.'

HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org

Author: 
Neil Pakenham-Walsh