AI Expands Scientists' Impact but Contracts Science's Focus

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2412.07727v1
• Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2024 18:24:17 GMT
• Title: AI Expands Scientists' Impact but Contracts Science's Focus
• Authors: Qianyue Hao, Fengli Xu, Yong Li, James Evans,
• Abstract summary: We analyze 67.9 million research papers across six major fields using a validated language model.<n>Scientists who adopt AI tools publish 67.37% more papers, receive 3.16 times more citations, and become team leaders 4 years earlier than non-adopters.
• Score: 11.634306888037273
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Abstract: The rapid rise of AI in science presents a paradox. Analyzing 67.9 million research papers across six major fields using a validated language model (F1=0.876), we explore AI's impact on science. Scientists who adopt AI tools publish 67.37% more papers, receive 3.16 times more citations, and become team leaders 4 years earlier than non-adopters. This individual success correlates with concerning on collective effects: AI-augmented research contracts the diameter of scientific topics studied, and diminishes follow-on scientific engagement. Rather than catalyzing the exploration of new fields, AI accelerates work in established, data-rich domains. This pattern suggests that while AI enhances individual scientific productivity, it may simultaneously reduce scientific diversity and broad engagement, highlighting a tension between personal advancement and collective scientific progress.

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