AI boosts individual scientific impact but narrows science’s collective reach
A Nature study analyzing 41.3 million papers shows that scientists using AI tools publish 3.02× more papers, receive 4.84× more citations, and reach leadership ~1.37 years earlier. However, AI adoption contracts the knowledge extent by 4.63%, reduces cross-disciplinary engagement by 22%, and concentrates work in data-rich areas, implying a paradox where individual researchers gain influence while collective science becomes narrower and less collaborative.