GoKawiilAI-generated fake researchers found as authors on scores of preprint papers
A June preprint by Samsung AI Center Warsaw researchers Neo Christopher Chung and Michał Brzozowski found that chatbots including Claude, Gemini and GPT repeatedly invent the same fictional 'expert' personas, such as Elena Vasquez and Marcus Chen, when asked to generate expert profiles. The researchers traced hundreds of these AI-fabricated identities to manuscripts on repositories like Zenodo and ResearchGate, some of which carry real DOIs.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Because DOIs let papers be indexed by scholarly databases and search engines, fake authors with real identifiers could quietly seep into the scientific record and be cited or trusted as genuine expertise. This suggests existing preprint and repository vetting may be poorly equipped to catch AI-fabricated authorship at scale, raising broader questions about how research integrity checks need to adapt as generative AI use grows.
- Chatbots like Claude, Gemini and GPT tend to generate the same recurring fictional 'expert' names when prompted.
- Researchers found hundreds of fake manuscripts on Zenodo and ResearchGate listing these AI-generated authors.
- Some fake papers carry real DOIs, risking inclusion in databases and search engines that index scholarly work.
Source: nature.com — Ryan, 2026-09-30
Published there as: “Elena, Aris, Marcus: AI-generated ‘ghosts’ are polluting the scientific literature”
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