AIF Insights No. 19 (2026) | Using Generative AI for Research: From Research Assistant to Responsible Companion in Healthcare Research

This article explores the integration of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in healthcare research, balancing its efficiency and methodological benefits with potential risks to research integrity, data privacy, and ethical responsibility. Focusing on the context of healthcare professionals in low- and middle-income countries like Cambodia, the author proposes a Model-Mode-Task-Verification paradigm to establish safe, structured workflows for literature exploration, study design, data analysis, and academic writing. Ultimately, the article emphasizes that GenAI must serve strictly as a disciplined, transparently disclosed assistant, leaving final accountability, epistemic authority, and human judgment entirely in the hands of the researchers.