Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in science, and this trend will only continue to grow. In this edition of Research, we explore how scientists use AI, who sets the rules for its use, and how scientists cope with the dependence on the powerful American companies whose AI tools we use.
American tech companies like Google and Microsoft are at the heart of our education and research, putting scientific values such as reliability, transparency, and safety under pressure. Meanwhile, the dependence on these companies is only increasing. ChatGPT or Copilot are embedded in products we work with daily. You have less and less choice not to use them, says university professor of Media and Digital Society José van Dijck. How do scientists deal with this dependence? How can they break free from American tech companies? To be less dependent on big tech, various places in the Netherlands are working on alternative, sustainable AI solutions for greater digital sovereignty. From GPT-NL to neuromorphic chips.
How can humans stay in control?
With an increase in (partially) AI-generated papers and AI-executed closed loop-experiments, researchers may increasingly find themselves on the sidelines. How can humans remain in control in science? We want to strengthen humans, says professor of Interactive Intelligence Catholijn Jonker, who advocates for hybrid intelligence where humans and machines collaborate. Scientific reasoning remains a human endeavor.
Research on a large scale
If used responsibly, AI can not only accelerate science but also deepen it. The use of AI enables research that could never have been conducted on this scale before. For example, research into microorganisms on potatoes, handwritten historical documents, or the traffic safety of cyclists in the Netherlands.
Read the magazine
The new edition of NWO magazine comes out this week and is available to read online. In this edition of Research, we explore how scientists use AI, how they deal with the dependence on American tech companies, and what Dutch alternatives exist.
Read the entire magazine The AI Revolution: Blessing or Concern?