Reason and responsibility as a path toward ethical AI for (global) public health

AI can enhance public health practice, but it requires careful consideration of ethical implications. We propose a reason-based framework to guide AI co-design and use for public health. AI systems must be developed with public health expertise, lived experience insights, and human accountability to ensure responsible outcomes. We advocate for ethical principles to be embedded throughout the AI lifecycle, thus proactively addressing risks while reinforcing trust in public health practice.