## AI and Scientific Research: A Double-Edged Sword Artificial intelligence is transforming the world of scientific research, offering new opportunities but also raising significant concerns. A recent study has highlighted how the use of AI can accelerate researchers' careers, but at the same time flatten scientific innovation. ## Individual Benefits Researchers who integrate AI tools into their work tend to publish a larger number of papers, receive more citations, and reach leadership positions in a shorter time. This is due to AI's ability to automate tasks, analyze large amounts of data, and generate new hypotheses. ## The Risk for Collective Science Despite the individual benefits, the analysis revealed that AI-enhanced research tends to focus on narrower thematic areas. This means that, although individual scientists may progress more quickly, science as a whole may lose originality and breadth of exploration. The tendency is to converge on problems that are already well-defined and rich in data, neglecting less explored areas. ## A Vicious Circle of Conformity? Some experts fear that this trend could create a vicious circle, in which conformity and lack of originality become increasingly accentuated. The pressure to publish a large number of papers could push researchers to focus on what is easier to automate with AI, rather than on more complex and innovative questions. ## Incentives and Future Prospects To reverse this trend, it is necessary to rethink the incentives that drive scientific research. Instead of simply rewarding the number of publications, the ability to explore new frontiers and address complex problems should be valued. AI has the potential to expand the boundaries of knowledge, but only if used strategically and with a long-term vision.