Quantifying the use and potential benefits of artificial intelligence in scientific research.

Nat Hum Behav

Center for Science of Science and Innovation, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.

Published: December 2024


Article Synopsis

  • * A new measurement framework shows that while AI is widely used in science and has been growing since 2015, there is a significant gap between the education in AI and its actual application in research settings.
  • * The study highlights demographic disparities, revealing that fields with more women or Black scientists are experiencing fewer advantages from AI, raising concerns about equity and sustainability in scientific research.

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Article Abstract

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to reshape almost every line of work. Despite enormous efforts devoted to understanding AI's economic impacts, we lack a systematic understanding of the benefits to scientific research associated with the use of AI. Here we develop a measurement framework to estimate the direct use of AI and associated benefits in science. We find that the use and benefits of AI appear widespread throughout the sciences, growing especially rapidly since 2015. However, there is a substantial gap between AI education and its application in research, highlighting a misalignment between AI expertise supply and demand. Our analysis also reveals demographic disparities, with disciplines with higher proportions of women or Black scientists reaping fewer benefits from AI, potentially exacerbating existing inequalities in science. These findings have implications for the equity and sustainability of the research enterprise, especially as the integration of AI with science continues to deepen.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-02020-5DOI Listing

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