Are REBs Ready for AI?

DESCRIPTION OF SESSION

The recent surge in the availability and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as LLM software applications, like ChatGPT, ought to prompt urgent discussion in the fields of clinical research and research ethics board (REB) review. Myriad concerns include data privacy and security, informed consent, data validity and biases, equity, and research grant exploitation issues. Amid these discussions, this workshop probes a crucial inquiry: are research ethics boards adequately equipped to grapple with the ethical intricacies stemming from the integration of AI in clinical research? In this interactive workshop we will discuss ethical challenges related to the growing use of AI in the research enterprise, highlight some of the current capabilities of AI, and through an AI-generated protocol identification exercise, we will call attention to the need for REB preparedness to effectively identify and respond to the use of AI. Research participants will be prompted to consider: Can REBs (their own REB, if applicable) reliably detect AI-generated research documents, and how does this capacity – or lack thereof – impact their ability to ensure research integrity? Participants will leave with a heightened awareness of the reality of the use of AI in research and a better awareness of their own limitations. We hope this workshop can motivate the pursuit of professional development opportunities, encourage the development of REB policies and/or creation of education materials (i.e. curriculum or certifications). The workshop will be delivered virtually and use interactive tools, including SLIDO.