A study of over 1,100 communication scholars across 77 countries reveals that nearly 70% use generative AI in research despite widespread concerns about its appropriateness, creating a "transparency paradox" where researchers fear disclosing AI use will damage credibility. The lack of institutional guidelines has led to "AI shame" and calls for a disclosure-positive culture with clear ethical standards.
Jess Werk, astronomy department chair at the University of Washington, argues that while AI has transformed astronomy through supercomputing and data analysis, generative AI poses a risk to the profession by prioritizing output speed over human understanding and meaning-making. She proposes a 'cognitive sanctuary' model—department-level structural protections to preserve the value of doctoral education against productivity-driven incentive systems that AI now makes easy to exploit.
Stanford Residential & Dining Enterprises used AI to alter student appearances in advertising, changing races, genders, and body shapes without consent. Student Billy Ramirez discovered he had been replaced by an AI-generated Black woman in a banner, prompting criticism over identity representation and institutional decision-making about student diversity in marketing materials.