HKU PhD student's paper under investigation over suspected AI-generated references

A University of Hong Kong PhD student's research paper is under investigation after allegedly citing multiple non-existent references, some suspected to be fabricated by artificial intelligence.

The paper titled "Forty Years of Fertility Transition in Hong Kong" by social work department doctoral candidate Bai Yiming was published in Springer Nature's quarterly journal "China Population and Development Studies" in October.

Publisher Springer Nature has added an editor's note to the online version dated November 14, stating the paper's reference accuracy has been questioned and the journal is investigating according to Committee on Publication Ethics guidelines.

The paper allegedly cites approximately 24 questionable references. Co-authors include HKU Faculty of Social Sciences Associate Dean Paul Yip, who serves as corresponding author.

Yip acknowledged public concerns about the paper. HKU stated it maintains strict guidelines on AI use in research and has initiated standard procedures to investigate the allegations, promising appropriate follow-up if research misconduct is found.