AI Expands Scientists' Impact but Contracts Science's Focus

• https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.07727
• Qianyue Hao, Fengli Xu, Yong Li, James Evans

Scientists who adopt AI tools publish 67.37% more papers, receive 3.16 times more citations, and become team leaders 4 years earlier than non-adopters. This individual success correlates with concerning on collective effects: AI-augmented research contracts the diameter of scientific topics studied, and diminishes follow-on scientific engagement.