Does the future of evidence-based healthcare lie in autonomous research?

The healthcare landscape is undergoing a profound transformation with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) meaning that health technology assessment (HTA) stands at a critical crossroads. While a previous discussion examined how generative AI is reshaping traditional HTA processes, a more sophisticated and promising development is emerging: agentic deep research. This approach represents a fundamental reimagining of how evidence is generated, synthesised, and applied to inform healthcare decision-making.