Controversial AI-Generated Figures Spark Outrage in Scientific Community
In a shocking turn of events, the scientific community has been left appalled and scornful after the circulation of egregiously bad AI-generated figures from a recently published peer-reviewed article. The figures, which were acknowledged by the authors to be the work of Midjourney, have caused outrage due to their uninterpretable nature. Notably, one figure features an image of a rat with grotesquely large and bizarre genitals, accompanied by the text label “dck.”
The publisher of the review article, Frontiers, has responded to the uproar by posting an “expression of concern” on their website. They have acknowledged the concerns raised and have initiated an investigation into the matter. The publisher has assured that updates will be provided once the investigation concludes.
The article in question, titled “Cellular functions of spermatogonial stem cells in relation to JAK/STAT signaling pathway,” was authored by three researchers in China, including Dingjun Hao of Xi’an Honghui Hospital. It was published online in the journal Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology.
Scientists were quick to share and comment on the first figure of the paper, which featured the anatomically incorrect rat. The image immediately caught attention due to its obvious flaws, including nonsensical labels such as “dissilced,” “Stemm cells,” “iollotte sserotgomar,” and “dck.” Researchers expressed surprise and dismay at how such a blatantly bad AI-generated image could pass through the peer-review system and the journal’s internal processing.
However, the issues with the figures did not end there. Figure 2, intended to be a diagram of a complex signaling pathway, turned out to be a jumbled mess. Instead of providing a clear explanation, it confused scientists with its nonsensical text and baffling images. Figure 3 was equally problematic, presenting a collage of small circular images densely annotated with gibberish. Its purpose was to visually represent how the signaling pathway from Figure 2 regulates the biological properties of spermatogonial stem cells.
The circulation of these figures has shed light on a growing problem in scientific publishing. The success of a scientist often depends on their publication record, with a focus on frequent publishing in top-tier journals. This system incentivizes researchers to push through low-quality articles, which could potentially be generated with the help of AI. The increasing use of AI in research raises concerns about the reliability of published research. To address this issue, research journals have recently implemented new authorship guidelines for AI-generated text. However, as evident from the Frontiers article, there are still gaps in the system.
The controversy surrounding the AI-generated figures serves as a wake-up call for the scientific community. It highlights the need for stricter quality control measures and a reevaluation of the incentives that drive researchers to prioritize quantity over quality. As the investigation into this particular case unfolds, scientists and publishers alike must work together to ensure the integrity and trustworthiness of scientific research in the age of AI.