The call comes in response to an article in de Volkskrant outlining how AI is advancing science across various disciplines. In paleography, for example, AI can be used to date texts more quickly and accurately and determine who wrote them.

But AI also carries many risks, the Rathenau Institute warns. Generative AI, such as ChatGPT, puts “core scientific values under pressure,” including integrity, independence, and reliability. The Rathenau Institute is also seeing a sharp rise in fake articles generated by AI. Clear rules therefore need to be introduced quickly.

Tracking down research

According to a survey by scientific publisher Elsevier late last year, around 58 percent of scientists now use some form of artificial intelligence. It is mainly used to track down recent research and gather literature.

The Rathenau Institute is calling on universities and other knowledge institutions to establish clear guidelines. It also raises the fundamental question: “What kind of science do we actually want, with or without generative AI?”

Code of conduct

Meanwhile, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) is currently working on a new code of conduct for scientific integrity. A draft version was published last fall, and it also addresses artificial intelligence.

“Only use technologies whose functionality is known and scientifically validated,” the draft code states. That’s a challenge with AI programs like ChatGPT and Perplexity, where it’s often unclear what sources they rely on and how data is processed.

According to the KNAW, the new code of conduct will apply to both universities and universities of applied sciences and is expected to take effect this fall.

This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor.