A prominent scientific journal has officially retracted an article featuring an AI-generated image of a rat with large genitals alongside strings of nonsensical gibberish words. The embarrassing reversal highlights the risk of using the increasingly popular AI tools in scientific literature. Though some major journals are already reigning in the practice, researchers worry unchecked use of the AI tools could promote inaccurate findings and potentially deal reputational damage to institutions and researchers.
How did an AI-generated rat pass peer review?
The AI-generated images appeared in a paper published earlier this week in the journal Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. The three researchers, who are from Xi’an Honghui Hospital and Xi’an Jiaotong University, were investigating current research related to sperm stem cells of small mammals. As part of the paper, the researchers included an illustration of a cartoon rat with a phallus towering over its own body. Labels appeared beside the rat with incoherent works like “testtomcels,” “Dissisilcied” and “dck.” The researchers openly acknowledged they used Midjoruney’s AI-image generator to produce the image in text accompanying the figure.
The AI-generated rat was followed up by three more figures purportedly depicting complex signaling pathways. Though these initially appeared less visually jarring than the animated rat, they were similarly surrounded by nonsensical AI-generated gibberish. Combined, the odd figures quickly garnered attention amongst academics on social media, with some questioning how the clearly inaccurate figures managed to slip through Frontiers’ review process.
Erm, how did Figure 1 get past a peer reviewer?! https://t.co/pAkRmfuVed H/T @aero_anna pic.twitter.com/iXpZ1FvM1G
— Dr CJ Houldcroft 🕷️ (@DrCJ_Houldcroft) February 15, 2024
Though many researchers have cautioned against using AI-generated material in academic…
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