Artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving into a powerful watchdog for the scientific world, promising to scrutinize published research like never before. But as AI-driven audits begin to unearth errors, fraud, and questionable practices across disciplines, scientists and the public face a critical question: Will this lead to reform—or rupture trust in science itself?

Science has always prided itself on self-correction, especially through peer review. Yet, with a growing number of journals, increased publication pressure, and the rise of paper mills and ghostwritten studies, the system is stretched thin. Watchdogs like Retraction Watch and meta-scientific efforts do valuable work, but they are time-consuming, reactive, and often come too late.

Now, AI is stepping in. Tools like ImageTwin and Proofig already detect manipulated images. Language models can spot the telltale word salad of fake studies. More advanced AI systems are being tested to identify flawed logic, manipulated data, and even incorrect mathematical proofs at scale. A full-text, AI-led audit of the global scientific record is increasingly within reach.

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This could be revolutionary—but also risky. A sweeping AI audit might uncover widespread mundane errors, overlooked inconsistencies, and even fraud. While such transparency could drive reform, it also opens the door to sensationalism and misinformation. Bad actors could exploit audit findings to undermine science altogether.

To preserve trust, the scientific community must lead this transformation. That means moving away from exaggerated press releases and the myth of lone genius discoveries. Instead, science must be portrayed as a collaborative, evolving effort—where mistakes are expected and correction is a strength, not a scandal.

The future of scientific credibility may depend on how the research community responds. If it embraces AI’s audit power with humility and transparency, the result could be a more robust, resilient scientific enterprise. But if it resists or remains reactive, it risks allowing public trust to be shattered by the very technologies it helped create.