The Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK has published a new national recommendation, Artificial Intelligence in Research: Research Integrity and Ethical Principles.
TENK's national AI recommendation provides the research community with guidance on identifying, assessing and managing the ethical questions and risks associated with the development, study and use of artificial intelligence. The recommendation was published in TENK's publication series in Finnish and in English in June 2026. Links:
The Swedish version will be published in 2026.
The rapid advancement of AI is affecting research across all disciplines and transforming research practices in areas such as data processing, analysis and text production. At the same time, AI raises ethical concerns related to, for example, the reliability of research, the rights of research participants, and the societal and environmental impacts of AI use.
A key premise of the AI recommendation is that the ethical principles governing research do not change with technological developments. The fundamental principles of research integrity—reliability, honesty, respect and accountability—apply equally to the development and use of AI in research. Responsibility for the content, conclusions and reliability of research always remains with the researcher.
The recommendation addresses both the use of AI as a tool in research and research involving the development of AI systems. It includes recommendations for researchers and research organisations on topics such as transparency in AI use, data management, research assessment, AI literacy and ethical review.
The recommendation was prepared as part of TENK’s Research Ethics of Artificial Intelligence project, funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture and carried out between 2023 and 2026.
According to Simo Kyllönen, university lecturer and the chair of the working group, the aim of the recommendation is to help the research community apply established principles of research ethics in a rapidly changing operating environment.
“AI offers new opportunities for research, but it also brings new ethical questions. AI can support research in many ways, but it does not replace the researcher’s own judgement, expertise, or responsibility. The recommendation provides researchers, research organisations and ethics committees with tools for assessing ethical issues and risks associated with the use of AI,” says Kyllönen.
The recommendation complements TENK’s existing RE and RI guidelines. It applies to all research and research, development and innovation (RDI) activities in which AI is studied, developed or used. TENK continues to monitor developments in AI and research practices and updates the recommendation as necessary to ensure that it remains current.
Photo: Lee 琴 / Unsplash
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