The Struggling Scientists

The Worst AI Mistakes in Published Research

May 7, 2026·8 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

AI is already being used in academic research, and some of it is going very wrong.In this video, we break down real cases where the misuse of AI led to serious problems in published scientific papers. This includes fake references, copy pasted AI text, and completely incorrect AI generated figures that somehow made it through peer review.From a hospital librarian discovering that most references in a paper did not even exist, to a viral paper with biologically impossible AI images, these examples highlight a growing issue in modern science.But this is not just about researchers using AI incorrectly. It also raises bigger questions about peer review, journal responsibility, and how these mistakes are slipping through the system.________________________________________________________________👉 We are The Struggling Scientists, a channel for all struggling scientists out there.We share honest experiences, practical advice, and real stories to help make your life in academia just a little bit less of a struggle.🎓 Want to learn how to use AI properly in your research?We created a full AI for Academics Masterclass where we show you how to use AI tools ethically and effectively, without risking your work or credibility:https://thestrugglingscientists.com/MasterclassAI__________________________________________________________________⏰ TIME STAMPS00:00 AI is already breaking research00:50 Copy pasted ChatGPT in a published paper02:55Fake references discovered by a librarian04:40 AI generated figures that make no sense6:55 What this means for science7:50 Final thoughts📱 Follow us for more contenthttps://thestrugglingscientists.com/newsletterhttps://www.instagram.com/thestrugglingscientistspodcast/https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-struggling-scientists-podcast/https://bsky.app/profile/thestrugglings4.bsky.socialhttps://www.tiktok.com/@struggling.scientistshttps://www.threads.com/@thestrugglingscientistspodcast#academia #phdlife #research #ai #chatgpt #scientificresearch #gradschool #academiclife #researchintegrityAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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