Dear HIFA colleagues,
I appreciate the editorial in the current issue of The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health: The example we set: Gen AI, honesty, and authenticity. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(25)00310-4/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email
The authors conclude:
'Currently we require authors to declare Gen AI use in any part of their work and reviewers to refrain from its use during all stages of the peer-review process, while as publishers we also explore how to invest in streamlining processes for authors and reviewers.
Relying heavily on Gen AI to lead the way in scientific enquiry risks recycling ideas instead of creating new knowledge, and it risks entrenching old and discriminatory schools of thinking instead of breaking new ground and breaking through biases. While we may wish for a pause, the challenge for the child and adolescent health community in 2026 is to wisely embrace Gen AI's potential but resist delegating our thinking to ensure the scientific process retains its essential humanity.'
This approach could provide a way forward for our discussions on HIFA? If you agree, we can include this in our guidance: https://www.hifa.org/forums/how-use-hifa-forums
Best wishes, Neil
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