Hundreds of Dutch scientists cite non-existent sources, rise linked to AI

An alarming trend has emerged within Dutch academia, with hundreds of scientists publishing research that includes references to non-existent sources. An investigation by De Groene Amsterdammer and Utrecht University's Data School revealed that over 748 "ghost references" appeared in 208 articles published by researchers affiliated with Dutch universities in the last three years.

The study, which examined more than 100,000 published scientific articles, highlights a significant increase in these fabricated citations. While in 2023, one in 3,700 articles contained a reference to a non-existent publication, that figure has now risen to nearly one in 200. This surge appears to correlate directly with the rise of artificial intelligence and large language models, with the increase in ghost references beginning around December 2023, just over a year after ChatGPT's introduction.

De Groene Amsterdammer suggests this growing phenomenon indicates "careless use" of AI by scientists. The majority of articles containing these phantom citations have appeared in reputable scientific journals. In response, publishers are reportedly taking action. Elsevier, the world's largest scientific publisher, has expanded its "integrity team" from fewer than ten to over a hundred employees to combat the issue.

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careless use