Ethicists flirt with AI to review human research.

The article discusses the potential role of large language models (LLMs) in alleviating the backlog of study proposals reviewed by institutional review boards (IRBs), which are responsible for ensuring the ethical treatment of research participants. Proponents argue that LLMs could efficiently flag errors and omissions in submissions, allowing human reviewers to focus on more complex ethical considerations. However, critics express concerns about over-reliance on AI, the risk of perpetuating biases, and the potential for commercial IRBs to prioritize efficiency over thoroughness. Despite these concerns, some researchers are exploring ways to customize LLMs to align with specific ethical standards and cultural contexts, suggesting that AI could enhance the review process without replacing human oversight. [Extracted from the article]