February 2026
Abstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has changed our way of assessing, processing, and distributing information, and Large Language Models (LLMs) like Chat GPT, Gemini, Claude and others could be seen as a replacement of intellectual performance previously only available through human intelligence. In the scientific community, many of us have been using AI and LLMs to accelerate their scientific productivity. However, it is unclear whether LLMs are actually needed to do high-quality science or simply yield higher productivity without substantially extending knowledge? This informal discussion was triggered by a discussion I had with Jason at the ESO guest house in Chile in January. I would like to discuss whether science actually profits from LLMs or if these tools rather undermine novel, quality research by design.