The Australian scientific journal Cosmos was harshly criticized on Thursday for publishing a series of articles generated by artificial intelligence (AI). Specialists have pointed out that these texts are inaccurate or oversimplified, raising concerns about the accuracy and quality of the information disclosed.
Cosmos, published by an Australian government-backed science agency, used OpenAI's ChatGPT-4 program to produce six articles last month. Although the journal publicly acknowledged the use of AI, the Australian Science Journalists Association expressed severe concerns about the results obtained.
Jackson Ryan, president of the association, told AFP that one of the articles entitled "What happens to our bodies after death?" described the scientific process incorrectly or oversimplified. Ryan mentioned that, for example, it was stated that rigor mortis occurs three to four hours after death, a statement that contradicts more nuanced scientific research.
Another example pointed out by Ryan was the description of the process of autolysis, where cells are destroyed by their enzymes. The article generated by IA claimed that cells "self-destruct," which Ryan considered an inadequate description of the complex biological process.
In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for the national science agency that publishes Cosmos assured that a trained science communicator reviewed the AI-generated content, which was subsequently edited by the journal's editorial team. However, the magazine pledged to continue to evaluate the use of artificial intelligence in future publications.
Gail MacCallum, former editor of Cosmos, told Australia's ABC that while she is a "big supporter of exploring AI," creating articles using this technology is "outside her comfort zone". On the other hand, Ian Connellan, also a former editor of the magazine, commented to the ABC that he was not informed about the project and that, had he known, he would have warned that it was "a bad idea".
The controversy highlights growing concerns about the use of artificial intelligence tools in the production of news content. While AI offers new possibilities for content creation, experts insist on the need for rigorous human review to ensure the accuracy and integrity of published information. According to AFP, the journal is currently reviewing its policy on using AI in article creation.
