A large-scale analysis of the impact of artificial intelligence technologies on scientific activity has revealed paradoxical results. Researchers note that scientists using AI tools experience accelerated individual career development, but this process negatively affects overall scientific diversity.
As reported by the editorial office, an analysis of 41.3 million scientific articles published in Nature showed that scientists using artificial intelligence gain a significant advantage in both the number of publications and citation metrics. These scientists publish, on average, three times more articles than their peers and receive approximately five times more citations.
According to the research, researchers who actively use artificial intelligence also achieve project leader status more quickly. Statistical indicators reveal that they reach this stage, on average, a year and a half earlier, which is considered a significant advantage in an academic career.
However, the analysis shows that these positive individual outcomes create risks for the overall development of science. The widespread adoption of artificial intelligence has led to a 4.6 percent decrease in the diversity of global scientific topics and a 22 percent weakening of professional interactions among scientists.
Experts state that algorithms are increasingly directed towards automating and improving processes in existing and already researched areas. This leads to research remaining primarily within the framework of existing knowledge, rather than stimulating the creation of new scientific directions.