Signal New WHO report calls for stronger ethics oversight of AI-related health research

Summary

The World Health Organization released a report titled "Artificial Intelligence-related health research: ethics review and oversight" on September 21, 2026. WHO says AI is already transforming how health data are analysed, how research is conducted and how new technologies are developed and evaluated. The report warns that existing ethics oversight mechanisms may not always be equipped to address the novel risks this creates. It identifies three broad categories: health research using data analysed with AI, research with AI tools and technologies, and research on AI tools and technologies themselves. Research ethics committees are said to need additional expertise, training and resources to review complex AI studies. Beyond project-level review, the report assigns roles to funders, scientific journals, data governance bodies, professional societies and regulators. Noting that AI development remains concentrated in higher-income countries, it calls for stronger local leadership, capacity and participation in low- and middle-income settings.