A surge of AI-driven publications: the impact on health professionals and potential mitigating solutions

Checked 1 Oct 2026. Open license (CC-BY, CC-BY-SA, CC0, public domain): full text indexed and used in synthesis.

The rapid development of generative AI is reshaping scientific communication, particularly in medicine and public health. Since the release of ChatGPT in 2022, Large Language Models have become widely accessible, supporting manuscript editing, statistical analysis, and rapid evidence synthesis. However, this surge in AI-generated content raises concerns about the quality, reliability, and ethical implications of scientific publishing. Increased reliance on AI-driven authoring tools could exacerbate an "infodemic"-an overwhelming flood of potentially unreliable or misleading information. This risk is exacerbated by the prevailing "publish or perish" culture, which prioritizes publication volume over meaningful contributions. In addition, the proliferation of academic journals, especially those that charge high publication fees, deepens inequalities in global health research and limits access for low-income countries. Documented cases of fabricated articles and false authorship in predatory journals highlight how AI can be misused, threatening evidence-based medicine and influencing healthcare decisions. To address these challenges, regulatory frameworks, ethical guidelines, and widespread digital literacy training for researchers and health professionals are critical. A balanced approach-harnessing the efficiency of AI while safeguarding scientific integrity-is needed to prevent an AI-driven infodemic and ensure the equitable, high-quality dissemination of medical knowledge.

• Arzilli et al. 2025 and Bechky & Davis 2024 both warn that generative AI will inflate publication volume and further strain an already overcapacity publishing system, compounding publish-or-perish pressures and the risk of an unreliable-information infodemic. Trace →
• Arzilli et al. 2025 warn that increased reliance on AI-driven authoring tools could exacerbate an infodemic of unreliable or misleading information, a risk amplified by the prevailing publish-or-perish culture. Trace →

• Research integrity and LLMs