Cochrane Journal Retracts AI Tool Paper After 1 COI Breach
Updated
Updated · Retraction Watch · Jul 13
Cochrane Journal Retracts AI Tool Paper After 1 COI Breach
1 articles · Updated · Retraction Watch · Jul 13
Summary
A June 1 notice pulled a 2025 Cochrane Evidence Synthesis and Methods paper on Nested Knowledge’s AutoLit after the journal found the authors’ company ties violated its conflict-of-interest policy.
Cochrane said an editorial oversight missed the problem during review and publication; the issue surfaced when staff noticed the article lacked a separate COI statement and then sought one from the authors.
Kevin Kallmes, Nested Knowledge’s CEO, said the journal had specifically invited the article in January 2025, that affiliations and equity holdings were already visible, and that he had asked for a correction rather than retraction.
The paper, published in an AI-focused special issue in October and cited twice, will likely be resubmitted elsewhere as the dispute highlights Cochrane’s stricter COI rules than many journals.