AI-generated fake citations surge, study finds they are polluting scientific literature

A new study published in The Lancet reports a sharp rise in fabricated citations that do not correspond to real papers, threatening the reliability of the scientific record.

The researchers found that the frequency of these false references grew roughly sixfold between 2023 and 2025, creating many dead‑end citations in the literature.

The authors attribute the trend largely to the use of generative AI tools, which can produce plausible‑looking but invented references. They warn that such AI‑driven errors may erode confidence in published research and call for stronger checks before submission.