Artificial intelligence takes center stage: exploring the capabilities and implications of ChatGPT and other AI-assisted technologies in scientific research and education

The emergence of large language models (LLMs) and assisted artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as ChatGPT and Bard have revolutionized the way in which we interact with technology. These publicly available LLMs can generate cogent, human-like and human-level responses and have a diverse range of potential applications across diverse knowledge areas, including scientific research and education. However, with such advancements comes anew set of ethical, legal and social implications. Medical research and education are no exceptions, and our organizations must contend with new models of governance and responsibility. A recent Chat-GPT symposium at the Walter and Eliza Hall Medical Research Institute (WEHI)1 explored the current practical applications of LLMs in medical research and canvassed the emerging ethical, legal and social implications for the use of AI-assisted technologies in the sciences. The symposium was led by early career researchers, lab heads, educators and policy-makers, representing the diverse academic landscape within medical research institutes who engage with ChatGPT in their work, who as experts in their fields are learning to navigate the appropriate, efficient and ethical application of AI and LLMs. Together, the speakers sought to provoke discussions within the 500+ in-person and online audience on the use of AI-assisted technologies in scientific research, including its use as an overtly friendly editor of scientific papers and grants, its ability to turn non-coders into bioinformaticians, and its ability to analyze big data at warp speed. In addition to the emergence of AI-driven tools such as Alphafold and protein hallucination, the symposium addressed broader societal implications of using AI-assisted technologies in science, including concerns around the ethics, privacy, confidentiality and security of research data and writing that is entered into the AI-assisted technologies ether. This paper provides an overview of the WEHI Chat-GPT symposium’s key themes and discussions, highlighting the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for scientific researchers and educators as we continue to explore the potential of this cutting-edge and emerging technology.