Scientists Embrace AI Tools in Research, But Heed Warnings About Risks
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Scientists are embracing AI tools like self-driving labs and bot participants, but these tools pose risks like narrowing research scope or providing false confidence in understanding.
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Four "visions" of AI - as Oracle, Arbiter, Quant, and Surrogate - lead to illusions of explanatory depth, exploratory breadth, and objectivity.
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Risks include bias, losing questions AI can't answer, and overvaluing simulated behaviors.
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Mitigation strategies include mapping AI use to visions to identify risks, deliberate and limited AI use, and oversight by journals and funders.
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Social scientists have long studied AI; the scientific community must now heed their warnings about risks.