Filter by keyword: AI tools in science communication

Jul 27, 2026 Practice Insight

Early-career scientists and communication strategy: the ETIC project experience

This practice insight highlights a science communication initiative involving young researchers from the Einstein Telescope Infrastructure Consortium (ETIC), part of the effort to build the Einstein Telescope (ET), a next-generation gravitational-wave observatory expected to become operational by the late 2030s. ETIC supports a feasibility study for Sos Enattos in Sardinia, Italy, as a potential host site, while also strengthening the network of laboratories contributing to ET's scientific and technological development. To address the growing interest in Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST), we developed the “ETIC STEM Engagement Platform”: an innovative tool designed strictly for internal use by the communication office, not intended for public access or as a direct outreach channel. The platform enables early-career scientists to independently and proactively share multimedia content with the communications office, emphasizing key aspects of their research activities. Most early-career researchers in the ETIC have enthusiastically contributed original and personal materials, including photos, videos, and detailed descriptions of their research, discoveries, and connections to the local environment. These largely unpublished and original resources have been compiled into a dedicated database and are leveraged by the communication office to develop innovative public engagement campaigns.

Volume 25Issue 42026

May 25, 2026 Article

AI talking science: Experimental studies on the perception of AI-based chatbots as sources of science-based information

by Esther Greussing , Friederike Hendriks , Dr Aike C. Horstmann , Yannic Meier , Bianca Nowak , Rainer Bromme

AI-based chatbots offer new opportunities for communicating science-based information, but often fall short of established standards. We conducted two pre-registered experiments examining user perceptions of an AI-based chatbot providing information on nanoparticles in sunscreen. Study one (N = 508) tested whether a disclaimer about the chatbot's uncertain training data affected perceived source trustworthiness and information credibility. The results showed no significant effect of the disclaimer; perceptions were primarily influenced by users' prior attitudes. Study two (N = 1059) tested the evaluation of information on nanoparticles in sunscreen in an experiment with a 2 (source: scientist vs. AI-based chatbot) ×2 (presentation: static vs. dynamic) between-subjects design. The study showed that the scientist was evaluated as more trustworthy and the provided information seen as more credible compared to the AI-based chatbot. The two studies highlight the relevance of perceived objectivity in science and health communication, whether executed by humans or machines.

Volume 25Issue 32026

Mar 11, 2026 Editorial

Integrity under pressure: on generative AI, fabricated references and ethical publishing

by Marina Joubert , Michelle Riedlinger

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly present in academic writing workflows, and their irresponsible use poses a growing threat to the integrity of scholarly publishing. In this editorial, we highlight the emergence of AI-generated references, or so-called “ghost references”, as a specific concern for JCOM and the wider academic community. We consider how AI tools like large language models can produce convincing yet fictitious citations that might bypass standard peer review. Also, we reaffirm JCOM's policy requiring full disclosure of any generative AI use in preparing manuscripts, remind authors that the responsibility for accuracy and integrity lies with those whose names appear on submissions, and outline our commitment to reject, withdraw, or retract manuscripts found to contain fabricated content at any stage of the publication process. As a journal dedicated to science communication, JCOM maintains a strong focus on the honest and transparent development of knowledge.

Volume 25Issue 12026

Mar 09, 2026 Article

Visible sources and invisible risks: exploring the impact of AI disclosure on perceived credibility of AI-generated content

by Teng Lin , Yiqing Zhang

With the widespread use of AI-generated content (AIGC) on social media, its potential to spread misinformation poses threats to the public. Although AI disclosure is widely promoted as a transparency measure to prompt critical evaluation, its effectiveness in science communication remains controversial. This study conducted a within-subjects experiment (N = 433) to examine how AI disclosure affects perceived credibility of science communication texts and the moderating roles of readers' negative attitudes towards AI and audience involvement. The experiment manipulated AI disclosure labels and information veracity. The results revealed a truth-falsity crossover effect: AI disclosure significantly reduced the perceived credibility of correct information while unexpectedly increasing the perceived credibility of misinformation. Negative attitudes towards AI significantly moderated these effects, whereas audience involvement exerted only limited influence. These findings highlight the complex and sometimes counterproductive consequences of AI disclosure in science communication and suggest implications for cue-based processing, algorithm aversion, and the design of disclosure mechanisms.

Volume 25Issue 12026

Nov 10, 2025 Article

Empathic, Humorous, and … Trustworthy? A Mixed-methods Study on Real-time Evaluations of Voice-based AI Communicating Science-related Information

by Evelyn Jonas , Monika Taddicken

Two studies, using real-time response measurement and interviews, explore how German recipients assess the trustworthiness of a voice-based communicative AI conveying science-related information with empathic and humorous expressions. In both a laboratory and an online study, humor was associated with short-term declines in trustworthiness, reflecting cultural expectations and appreciation of objectivity and neutrality. In contrast, empathic expressions are rated more trustworthy, but evoke less conspicuous effects. Cluster analysis identified four distinct patterns of evaluation, with two groups largely unaffected by affective cues and two skeptical of humor, underscoring the importance of personalization and adaptation in designing trustworthy communicative AI for science communication.

Volume 24Issue 062025Emotions and Science Communication (Emotions and Science Communication)

Apr 14, 2025 Editorial

Science communication in the age of Artificial Intelligence

by Sabrina Heike Kessler , Daniela Mahl , Mike S. Schäfer , Sophia C. Volk

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fundamentally transforming science communication. This editorial for the JCOM Special Issue “Science Communication in the Age of AI” explores the implications of AI, especially generative AI, for science communication, its promises and challenges. The articles in this Special Issue can be categorized into four key areas: (1) communication about AI, (2) communication with AI, (3) the impact of AI on science communication ecosystems, and (4) AI’s influence on science, theoretical and methodological approaches. This collection of articles advances empirical and theoretical insight into AI’s evolving role in science communication, emphasizing interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives.

Volume 24Issue 022025Science Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Science Communication & AI)

Apr 14, 2025 Article

More than humanoid robots and cyborgs? How German print media visualize articles on artificial intelligence

by Melanie Leidecker-Sandmann , Tabea Lüders , Carolin Moser , Vincent Robert Boger , Markus Lehmkuhl

Engaging with the ongoing debate regarding the portrayal of artificial intelligence (AI) in the public sphere – particularly the alleged predominance of sci-fi imagery and humanoid robots – our study examines how six German print media visualize articles related to AI. A mixed-methods approach combines qualitative and quantitative visual content analysis, analyzing 818 images from articles published in 2019 and 2022/23. Our findings indicate that human figures, rather than robots, serve as dominant visual objects, and no pronounced gaps between textual and visual representations of AI were observed. Overall, German print media appear to present a differentiated perspective on AI, balancing opportunities and risks associated with this technology.

Volume 24Issue 022025Science Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Science Communication & AI)

Apr 14, 2025 Article

The new normal: the increasing adoption of generative AI in university communication

by Justus Henke

This study examines the adoption of generative AI (genAI) tools in German university communication departments using 2023 and 2024 survey data. Adoption has significantly increased in 2024, particularly for text generation, with private universities leading the way. Efficiency gains are evident, but issues with factual accuracy and data privacy persist. The findings highlight a transition from cautious experimentation to mainstream integration of genAI in communication strategies, though ethical concerns remain. Communication departments face the challenge of balancing genAI’s efficiency benefits with the need to uphold quality, individuality, and privacy.

Volume 24Issue 022025Science Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Science Communication & AI)

Apr 14, 2025 Article

“Away from this duty of chronicler and towards the unicorn”: how German science journalists assess their future with (generative) Artificial Intelligence

by Lars Guenther , Jessica Kunert , Bernhard Goodwin

The advent of generative Artificial Intelligence (genAI) is expected to have a significant impact on journalism. In this study, we address whether this development could help mitigate the crisis in science journalism. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 German science journalists, asking them about the potential impact genAI may have on the news-making process (i.e., selection, production, and distribution). The results suggest that interviewees anticipate many future benefits associated with genAI, some believe that the technology is unlikely to worsen the crisis in science journalism, while others express concerns about potential negative consequences (e.g., job loss).

Volume 24Issue 022025Science Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Science Communication & AI)

Apr 14, 2025 Article

Exploring temporal and cross-national patterns: the use of generative AI in science-related information retrieval across seven countries

by Esther Greussing , Lars Guenther , Ayelet Baram-Tsabari , Shakked Dabran-Zivan , Evelyn Jonas , Inbal Klein-Avraham , Monika Taddicken , Torben Agergaard , Becca Beets , Dominique Brossard , Anwesha Chakraborty , Antoinette Fage-Butler , Chun-Ju Huang , Siddharth Kankaria , Yin-Yueh Lo , Lindsey Middleton , Kristian H. Nielsen , Michelle Riedlinger , Hyunjin Song

This study explores the role of ChatGPT in science-related information retrieval, building on research conducted in 2023. Drawing on online survey data from seven countries—Australia, Denmark, Germany, Israel, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States—and two data collection points (2023 and 2024), the study highlights ChatGPT’s growing role as an information intermediary, reflecting the rapid diffusion of generative AI (GenAI) in general. While GenAI adoption is a global phenomenon, distinct regional variations emerge in the use of ChatGPT for science-related searches. Additionally, the study finds that a specific subset of the population is more likely to use ChatGPT for science-related information retrieval. Across all countries surveyed, science-information seekers report higher levels of trust in GenAI compared to non-users. They also exhibit a stronger understanding of how (Gen)AI works and, with some notable exceptions, show greater awareness of its epistemic limitations.

Volume 24Issue 022025Science Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Science Communication & AI)

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