Should Chatbots Be Used to Obtain Informed Consent for Research?

Abstract

Chatbots have become increasingly common in diverse settings as a substitute for human conversation. They are being developed and tested for obtaining informed consent for research. An initial study indicated that chatbots saved time and were successful in knowledge transfer, but the informed consent process serves other purposes, such as building trust and respecting the autonomy and dignity of potential research participants. Additional research and possible regulation are necessary before chatbots should be routinely used in health research.