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AI linked to boom in biomedical papers, infrared contact lenses, and is Earth's core leaking?

2025/5/28

Nature Podcast

AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript

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Lizzie Gibney

Nick Petridge-Howe

Sharmilee Bundell

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Sharmilee Bundell: 我认为目前可能存在大量由AI生成的低质量论文，这些论文使用特定的公共数据集。人们担心AI会被用来大量生产论文，但这很难证明。也许有人会用AI来帮助他们写作，但统计问题在于，你可以用AI来产生大量的分析。这些论文似乎都遵循一个模板，即某个变量与一个复杂的疾病相关联。如果你有一个开放的数据集，理论上你可以进行大量的测试，直到找到一个有积极关联的。也许AI或某种自动过程被用来大规模地搜寻信息并生成这些公式化的论文。这个问题在于，这个数据集是公开可用的，可以随时插入AI并进行分析。你可以不断地寻找，直到找到积极的关联。可能是因为使用完整的数据集无法得到想要的结果，或者可以通过将数据分成多个部分来发表多篇论文。将数据分成多个部分，其中一部分更有可能产生统计上的积极结果。如果你查看每个变量与其他变量的关系，并将数据分成小块，那么你的发现毫无意义。如果随意增加问题，只保留答对的，删除答错的，那么你的考试结果毫无意义。论文数量的迅速增加似乎与AI的可用性有关。使用这个特定数据集的关联研究论文数量在迅速增加。这似乎是一种轻松发表大量论文的方法。开放数据是一项宝贵的资产，但现在却被滥用了。公共数据库应该要求研究人员在访问数据之前注册他们的研究计划。应该阻止人们大规模挖掘这些数据集，因为当它们被这样滥用时，会淹没任何有意义的发现。这些研究可能导致错误的信息，或者人们浪费时间在这些研究的基础上进行研究。应该对论文的质量进行过滤，以避免误导该领域。 Lizzie Gibney: 我同意Sharmilee的观点，AI生成论文的问题确实值得关注。我们需要认真思考如何平衡开放数据和科研伦理，避免AI被滥用导致低质量论文的泛滥。

Deep Dive

Shownotes Transcript

00:33 Was a boom in papers driven by AI?

A spike in papers formulaically analysing a public data set has sparked worries that AI is being used to generate low quality and potentially misleading analyses.

Nature: AI linked to explosion of low-quality biomedical research papers)

08:07 Lenses that give humans infrared vision

Researchers in China have created contact lenses that can allow humans to see infrared light, which could help with search and rescue missions, sending secret messages and even surgery.

Nature: These contact lenses give people infrared vision — even with their eyes shut)

14:17 Does the Earth's core have a leak?

Geologists have uncovered the strongest evidence yet that Earth's core is leaking. Rocks from Hawaii were found to contain isotopes of a rare element, which suggests the material originally came from the core. More work will need to be done to rule out other explanations.

Nature: Is Earth’s core leaking? Volcanic rocks provide strongest evidence yet)

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