OBJECTIVES: This review assesses the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in health economic evidence analysis (HEEA), with a focus on its comparison with human intelligence (HI). The objective is to evaluate whether AI is merely an assistive tool or if it is revolutionizing HEEA.

METHODS: A comprehensive literature review was conducted, encompassing scientific databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar, and philosophical texts, including Aristotelian works. The search focused on articles and material discussing the application of AI in HEEA and its cognitive comparison with HI. The approach involved thematic analysis of the selected literature, emphasizing AI's capabilities, limitations, and its interplay with human reasoning.

RESULTS: In its current state, AI functions predominantly as an assistive tool in evidence analysis, enhancing data processing and preliminary analysis but lacking in autonomous interpretative capabilities. Contrary to some futuristic assertions, there is no substantial evidence supporting AI's revolutionary impact in this domain. AI's limitations are particularly evident in tasks requiring deep contextual understanding, ethical judgment, and complex decision-making – areas where HI excels. The research also highlighted that AI's strength lies in its ability to augment human decision-making, especially in managing large datasets, which complements the more abstract and ethical aspects of human reasoning.

CONCLUSIONS: AI’s role in HEEA is not a revolutionary force but an augmentative tool to human intelligence. While AI contributes significantly to handling and organizing large volumes of data, the intricate tasks of high-level interpretation, ethical reasoning, and contextual understanding remain the forte of human expertise. The most effective approach in HEEA is a synergistic one, combining AI's computational efficiency with the critical and ethical judgment of human intelligence. This collaboration paves the way for enhanced accuracy and efficiency in evidence analysis, leveraging the strengths of both AI and HI.