The Sound of Science: Exploring Generative AI Podcasts for Qualitative Health Research Translation

This paper contributes to ongoing conversations about the ethical and practical integration of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) in qualitative health research by focusing on an often-overlooked aspect of research-dissemination. Given GAI's capacity to translate complex ideas into accessible summaries, simplify jargon, adapt to different comprehension levels, and enhance understanding through analogies, we explore its potential to support knowledge translation. Specifically, we examine the use of GAI podcasts for public-facing dissemination. Drawing on our experience testing three GAI-assisted podcasting platforms-with features ranging from automated scriptwriting to audio production-we assess their affordances and limitations. Our experience with these platforms suggests that the effectiveness of GAI depends less on the tools themselves and more on how researchers critically engage with and shape their use. We conclude by emphasizing the importance of balancing artificial intelligence's promise of speed and reach with concerns about bias, mistrust, and limited artificial intelligence literacy-recognizing GAI as a partner, not a substitute, in meaningful communication.