Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40663724›Full record

ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2025

Exploring the Dilemma of AI Use in Medical Research and Knowledge Synthesis: A Perspective on Deep Research Tools.

Ariel Yuhan Ong, David A Merle, Siegfried K Wagner, Pearse A Keane

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Ariel Yuhan Ong *UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath St, London, EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom, +44 7482213973.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9300-573X
David A Merle *UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath St, London, EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom, +44 7482213973.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4485-5580
Siegfried K WagnerUCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath St, London, EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom, +44 7482213973.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4915-4353
Pearse A KeaneUCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, 11-43 Bath St, London, EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom, +44 7482213973.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9239-745X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Unlabelled: Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) promise to reshape the landscape of scientific inquiry. Amidst all these, OpenAI's latest tool, Deep Research, stands out for its potential to revolutionize how researchers engage with the literature. However, this leap forward presents a paradox; while AI-generated reviews offer speed and accessibility with minimal effort, they raise fundamental concerns about citation integrity, critical appraisal, and the erosion of deep scientific thinking. These concerns are particularly problematic in the context of biomedical research, where evidence quality may influence clinical practice and decision-making. In this piece, we present an empirical evaluation of Deep Research and explore both its remarkable capabilities and inherent limitations. Through structured experimentation, we assess its effectiveness in synthesizing literature, highlight key shortcomings, and reflect on the broader implications of these tools for research training, and the integrity of evidence-based practice. With AI tools increasingly blurring the lines between knowledge generation and critical inquiry, we argue that while AI democratizes access to knowledge, wisdom remains distinctly human.

Indexed as

Artificial IntelligenceBiomedical ResearchHumansKnowledgeAIartificial intelligencehallucinationlarge language modelLLMsmedical researchscientific writing

Identifiers

PMID40663724
PMCPMC12288101

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.