As researchers confront important global issues, they face growing demands to provide timely and impactful solutions. However, challenges such as increasing expectations, limited funding and insufficient infrastructure can create obstacles. In response, many are embracing emerging technologies such as AI for support. Times Higher Education hosted a webinar on the topic – in partnership with Digital Science – to discuss the evolving role of research in academia and the transformative impact of new technologies on making research more open, inclusive and collaborative.