Authors, wordsmiths and ghostwriters: Early career researchers' responses to artificial intelligence

Abstract Presents the results of a study of the impact of artificial intelligence on early career researchers (ECRs). An important group to study because their millennial mindset may render them especially open to AI. We provide empirical data and a validity check of the numerous publications providing forecasts and prognostications. This interview‐based study—part of the Harbingers project on ECRs—covers a convenience sample of 91 ECRs from all fields and seven countries using both qualitative and quantitative data to view the AI experience, engagement, utility, attitudes and representativeness of ECRs. We find that: (1) ECRs exhibit mostly limited or moderate levels of experience; (2) in regard to engagement and usage there is a divide with some ECRs exhibiting little or none and others enthusiastically using AI; (3) ECRs do not think they are unrepresentative when compared to their colleagues; (4) ECRs who score highly on these measures tend to be computer scientists, but not exclusively so; (5) the main concerns regarding AI were around authenticity, especially plagiarism; (6) a major attraction of AI is the automation of ‘wordsmithing’; the process and technique of composition and writing.