AccScience Publishing / EJMO / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/EJMO026290355
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PERSPECTIVE ARTICLE

Artificial intelligence as a copilot, not autopilot: A framework for responsible integration in pediatric hematology-oncology

Ioannis Kyriakidis1*
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1 Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology & Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, University Hospital of Heraklion, and Laboratory of Blood Diseases and Childhood Cancer Biology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
Received: 14 July 2026 | Revised: 12 August 2026 | Accepted: 14 August 2026 | Published online: 19 August 2026
© 2026 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming pediatric hematology-oncology. Current applications include pattern recognition in blood and marrow images, inference of tumor biology, relapse risk prediction, integration of complex clinical data, and support for writing, learning, and communication. Although often framed as a single technological revolution, these tools differ in purpose, evidentiary basis, and risk profile, yet they share a central consequence: the redistribution of cognitive work and clinical authority. Adoption should follow a “copilot, not autopilot” model in which AI extends perception and expertise while preserving accountable clinical judgment, rigorous formative reasoning in trainees, confidentiality, and equitable access to validated benefits. This demands pediatric- and setting-specific validation, transparent disclosure of AI use, systematic source verification, post-deployment monitoring, and graduated trust proportional to clinical stakes. AI may widen access to knowledge and reduce workload, but its value depends on disciplined verification and the clinician’s authority to override or decline its use.

Keywords
Artificial intelligence
Machine learning
Decision support systems
Pediatric hematology-oncology
Education
Medical
Health inequities
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The author declares no conflicts of interest.
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Eurasian Journal of Medicine and Oncology, Electronic ISSN: 2587-196X Print ISSN: 2587-2400, Published by AccScience Publishing