Study measures benefits of AI in research, yet highlights potential disparities

In this article: 

• Among approximately 75 million publications analysed, those employing AI are more likely to be a ‘hit paper’.

• Examples range fromdesigning new drug candidates in medicine to drafting new taxation policies in social sciences.

• Yet, many researchers still lack a systematic understanding of how AI may benefit scientific research, highlighting a substantial AI use–AI training gap.

• Several researchers lack a systematic understanding of how AI may benefit their research, and scepticism remains about whether AI is capable of advancing science in every field.

• In general, the use of AI is widespread across the sciences, dramatically increasing since 2015.

• Within this overall finding, the Northwestern University researchers found demographic disparities regarding the benefits of AI.