Earlier this week, a paper titled “Cellular functions of spermatogonial stem cells in relation to JAK/STAT signaling pathway” was published in the scientific journal “Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology.” This paper aimed to summarize the current research on sperm stem cells and was authored by three researchers from Xi’an Honghui Hospital and Xi’an Jiaotong University.
The article included three illustrative images created by the AI art generator Midjourney. However, these images were anatomically incorrect. The first image depicted a white rat with an exaggerated front tail, showcasing a bizarre collection of organs that did not accurately represent spermatogonial stem cells from rat testes. The labeling on this image contained errors such as “testtomcels,” “diƨlocttal stem ells,” and “iollotte sserotgomar cell,” further adding to the confusion.
The subsequent two images, though not as outlandish as the first, also lacked accuracy and meaningful information. Despite passing through the editorial and review process, these images managed to make it to publication without being flagged for inaccuracies.
Following the backlash, “Frontiers” issued a statement acknowledging the concerns raised and initiated an investigation into the matter. The paper has been retracted, and the identities of the editor, reviewers, and one of the authors have been redacted pending the investigation’s conclusion.
This incident serves as a cautionary tale about the limitations of relying solely on generative AI for professional work. It highlights the importance of human oversight and expertise, especially in fields where accuracy and precision are paramount.
