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AIRON Community Survey 2026: The State of AI in Research Operations

Thank you for contributing to the AIRON Community Survey on AI in Research Operations.

This survey gathers perspectives from professionals across the research ecosystem who are using, testing, governing, or beginning to explore artificial intelligence in research operations.

The survey explores:

1. adoption trends across the research ecosystem

2. AI-enabled workflows, tools, and emerging professional roles

3. barriers, risks, and organisational readiness

4. workforce development and capability-building needs

5. governance models and responsible, context-aware AI use

Findings will inform AIRON community briefings, programmes, and a forthcoming community report.

Estimated completion time: 8–12 min

Q1. Which of the following best describes your current role?

Q1. Which of the following best describes your current role?
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If 'other' please specify

Q2. Which best describes your organisation?

Q2. Which best describes your organisation?
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If 'other' please specify

Q3. In which region are you primarily based?

Q3. In which region are you primarily based?
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Q4. In which country are you primarily based?

Q5. What is the approximate size of your organisation?

Q5. What is the approximate size of your organisation?
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Q6. How would you describe your seniority?

Q6. How would you describe your seniority?
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Q7. How would you describe your organisation’s current stage of AI adoption in research operations?

Q7. How would you describe your organisation’s current stage of AI adoption in research operations?
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Q8. How would you describe your own current use of AI in research operations work?

Q8. How would you describe your own current use of AI in research operations work?
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Q9. When did AI begin to be discussed or used in your organisation for research operations?

Q9. When did AI begin to be discussed or used in your organisation for research operations?
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Q10. Which statement best reflects your organisation’s approach to AI in research operations?

Q10. Which statement best reflects your organisation’s approach to AI in research operations?
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Q11. In which areas of research operations is AI currently being used or tested in your organisation?

Q11. In which areas of research operations is AI currently being used or tested in your organisation?

If 'other' please specify

Q12. In which areas do you see the greatest potential for AI in the next 12–24 months?

Q13. Which AI-enabled tasks have you personally used in your work?

Q13. Which AI-enabled tasks have you personally used in your work?

If 'other' please specify

Q14. Which types of AI tools are being used or explored in your organisation?

Q14. Which types of AI tools are being used or explored in your organisation?

If 'other' please specify

Q15. Which specific AI tools are currently used, tested, or explored in your work or organisation? (e.g. ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot etc)

Q16. Are any of these emerging roles or responsibilities appearing in your organisation?

Q16. Are any of these emerging roles or responsibilities appearing in your organisation?

If 'other' please specify

Q17. What benefits have you seen or expect to see from AI in research operations?

Q17. What benefits have you seen or expect to see from AI in research operations?

If 'other' please specify

Q18. To what extent do you agree with the following statements? (from 0 (disagree) to 10 (agree))

AI can improve efficiency in research operations.

AI can improve efficiency in research operations.

AI can improve the quality of some operational outputs.

AI can improve the quality of some operational outputs.

AI is changing expectations of research operations staff.

AI is changing expectations of research operations staff.

AI is creating pressure to adopt new skills quickly.

AI is creating pressure to adopt new skills quickly.

AI could help reduce low-value administrative workload.

AI could help reduce low-value administrative workload.

AI adoption requires stronger governance than many institutions currently have.

AI adoption requires stronger governance than many institutions currently have.

AI should be adapted to research-specific contexts rather than applied generically.

AI should be adapted to research-specific contexts rather than applied generically.

Q19. Have you measured any impact from AI use in research operations?

Q19. Have you measured any impact from AI use in research operations?
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Q20. If yes, what kinds of impact have been measured or observed?

Q20. If yes, what kinds of impact have been measured or observed?

If 'other' please specify

Q21. Please share one example of where AI has made a meaningful difference in your work or organisation.

Q22. What are the main barriers to wider AI adoption in research operations in your context?

Q22. What are the main barriers to wider AI adoption in research operations in your context?

If 'other' please specify

Q23. Which risks concern you most in relation to AI use in research operations?

Q23. Which risks concern you most in relation to AI use in research operations?

If 'other' please specify

Q24. How confident are you that AI is currently being used responsibly in your organisation?

Q24. How confident are you that AI is currently being used responsibly in your organisation?
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Q25. Does your organisation currently have any of the following in place for AI use?

Q25. Does your organisation currently have any of the following in place for AI use?

If 'other' please specify

Q26. How mature is your organisation’s governance for AI in research operations?

Q26. How mature is your organisation’s governance for AI in research operations?
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Q27. Which parts of organisational readiness need the most development?

Q27. Which parts of organisational readiness need the most development?

If 'other' please specify

Q28. Who is primarily leading AI-related activity in your organisation?

Q28. Who is primarily leading AI-related activity in your organisation?
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If 'other' please specify

Q29. How prepared do you feel to use AI effectively in your role?

Q29. How prepared do you feel to use AI effectively in your role?
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Q30. What capability-building support would be most valuable to you or your organisation?

Q30. What capability-building support would be most valuable to you or your organisation?

If 'other' please specify

Q31. Over the next 2 years, how do you think AI will affect research operations roles?

Q31. Over the next 2 years, how do you think AI will affect research operations roles?
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Q32. Which statement best reflects your view?

Q32. Which statement best reflects your view?
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Q33. What should be the top priorities for the research operations community over the next 12 months? (please rank the options)

Q33. What should be the top priorities for the research operations community over the next 12 months? (please rank the options)
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Q34. What would you most like AIRON to provide?

Q34. What would you most like AIRON to provide?

If 'other' please specify

Q35. Looking ahead, how optimistic are you about the role of AI in research operations?

Q35. Looking ahead, how optimistic are you about the role of AI in research operations?
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Q36. What is the one biggest question your organisation is trying to answer about AI right now?

Q37. Is there anything else you would like to share about AI in research operations?

Q38. Would you be willing to be contacted for follow-up, case study participation, or future AIRON activities?

Q38. Would you be willing to be contacted for follow-up, case study participation, or future AIRON activities?
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B

Q39. Please enter your email address if you are happy to be contacted.

Q40. May AIRON quote your comments anonymously in community reports or briefings?

Q40. May AIRON quote your comments anonymously in community reports or briefings?
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B