Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Scientific/Medical Integrity and the Future


Over time, we now have witnessed the problems or a number of peer-reviewed papers being recalled.  A current instance as reported in quite a few locations, Reference 1 states: “The Dana-Farber Most cancers Institute (SCFI), an affiliate of Harvard Medical College, is in search of to retract six scientific research and proper 31 others that had been revealed by the institute’s high researchers, together with its CEO. The researchers are accused of manipulating knowledge photographs with easy strategies, primarily with copy-and-paste in picture enhancing software program, akin to Adobe Photoshop.”

There have been allegations of knowledge manipulation in 57 SFCI-led research. [Ref. 2] There was a rise within the utility of AI functions being employed to test for fraudulent imagery.  In an editorial [Ref. 3] in Science, they assert that they’re utilizing Proofig to search for picture duplication or different sorts of picture modifications.  In addition they make use of iThenticate for plagiarism detection. 

In a associated space, AI is operating into copyright problem with its generated photographs.  The IEEE Spectrum journal [Ref. 4] has an article on the potential for copyright violations.  One instance exhibits a generated article nearly 90% equivalent in phrases and sentences from a New Youk Instances article.   Whereas this text references the sort of outcome to plagiaristic outputs, it’s plagiarism if an individual did that.  The flexibility of AI generated texts to create imaginary references has been referenced as having hallucinatory output.  A key query that was generated was: is there any means for a person of the generative AI to make sure there may be not copyright infringement or plagiarism?  A superb query that may must be answered.  Within the analysis of photographs, the researchers discovered a whole bunch of cases the place there was little or no distinction for recognizable characters in video and video games.  This evaluation was based mostly on a really restricted research of topics (just a few hundred). 

Whereas using Generative AI is turning into extra widespread, even cautious critiques of the information and photos won’t stop the misuse of the outcomes.  Within the April 2020 Weblog [Ref. 5] the subject of scientific integrity and COVID-19 was coated intimately.  The important thing factors had been that even with a strong analysis basis the outcomes will be topic to misinterpretation by people who find themselves unfamiliar with varied methods of analyzing the information.  One other level in that weblog is that when the outcomes of an evaluation are diminished to a single quantity, the potential for creating inappropriate impressions is excessive.  So, the assemble of the mannequin and the assumptions are essential.

This brings up one other query of what are the below pinnings of Synthetic Intelligence applications.  What are the algorithms which are being employed AND do these algorithms work together with one another.  As described in earlier blogs involving professional methods work within the Nineteen Eighties, the professional system is predicated on the atmosphere (knowledge analyzed) it was created for.  The professional methods then improved its efficiency based mostly on the brand new knowledge acquired although its operation.  This can be a downside of self-biasing.  AI applications are constructed on a base of data.  Typically the information absorbed is protected, e.g., the New York Instances database.  So, all the information may not be out there.  If one had been to deal with a single database and develop that for projecting future data, there can be vital distinction in information projection relying on if the information had been obtained from CNN or Fox Information. 

The functions and even the event of latest instruments for creating stories and the complementary applications for evaluating the veracity of the knowledge offered are nonetheless within the very early levels of improvement.  This 12 months, 2024, ought to witness some fascinating improvement within the utility of AI instruments.  Important help in medication is being offered already and extra needs to be coming.  It simply requires cautious utility of the applications and understanding the information.

References:

  1. https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/01/top-harvard-cancer-researchers-accused-of-scientific-fraud-37-studies-affected/
  2. https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/01/all-science-journals-will-now-do-an-ai-powered-check-for-image-fraud/
  3. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adn7530
  4. https://spectrum.ieee.org/midjourney-copyright
  5. http://www.nano-blog.com/?p=370

About Walt

I’ve been concerned in varied features of nanotechnology for the reason that late Seventies. My curiosity in selling nano-safety started in 2006 and produced a white paper in 2007 explaining the 4 pillars of nano-safety. I’m a know-how futurist and is at present centered on nanoelectronics, single digit nanomaterials, and 3D printing on the nanoscale. My expertise consists of three startups, two of which I based, 13 years at SEMATECH, the place I used to be a Senior Fellow of the technical workers once I left, and 12 years at Normal Electrical with 9 of them on company workers. I’ve a Ph.D. from the College of Texas at Austin, an MBA from James Madison College, and a B.S. in Physics from the Illinois Institute of Expertise.

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