Confabulated references in the age of AI: contamination of the biomedical scientific literature

Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are increasingly used in drafting scientific papers. While they can improve clarity and efficiency, a troubling issue has emerged: the inclusion of fabricated references—nonexistent citations that can mislead, especially in biomedical research where evidence integrity is crucial. Studies indicate that 69% of references in ChatGPT’s medical queries are false, and only 7% of AI-generated medical articles contain accurate references. These fake citations often mimic real authors and journals, making detection difficult. Such inaccuracies can compromise research integrity, skew citation metrics, and reduce trust in scientific literature. To address this, journals are adopting policies requiring disclosure of AI use and human verification of references. Nonetheless, detecting AI-related misinformation remains challenging, and many experts believe the problem is bigger than currently known. Going forward, authors should avoid relying solely on LLMs, and reviewers must scrutinize references carefully. The scientific community needs to balance AI’s usefulness with rigorous oversight, ensuring that the pursuit of efficiency doesn't undermine credibility. Ultimately, safeguarding research from AI-generated misinformation will require combined efforts of transparency, vigilance, and adherence to ethical principles, preserving the integrity of biomedical science.