GPT-fabricated scientific papers on Google Scholar: Key features, spread, and implications for preempting evidence manipulation

Abstract

Academic journals, archives, and repositories are seeing an increasing number of questionable research papers clearly produced using generative AI. They are often created with widely available, general-purpose AI applications, most likely ChatGPT, and mimic scientific writing. Google Scholar easily locates and lists these questionable papers alongside reputable, quality-controlled research. Our analysis of a selection of questionable GPT-fabricated scientific papers found in Google Scholar shows that many are about applied, often controversial topics susceptible to disinformation: the environment, health, and computing. The resulting enhanced potential for malicious manipulation of society's evidence base, particularly in politically divisive domains, is a growing concern.

Published in

Harvard Kennedy School misinformation review
2024, volume: 5, number: 5

SLU Authors

• Rödl, Malte

  • Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Information Science

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.37016/mr-2020-156

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/139914