PhD students who write dissertation with AI less likely to stay in academia
Nature, Published online: 16 October 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-03253-2 US PhD graduates who used artificial intelligence were more likely to work in industry.
A recent study suggests that PhD students who utilize AI to assist in writing their dissertations are less likely to pursue careers in academia, according to a working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research. The research analyzed over 226,000 STEM doctoral graduates' dissertations completed in the United States since 2019.
The study, which has not undergone peer review, employed an AI-detection service to assess the abstracts and found that AI-generated text began appearing in dissertations in 2023, rising from 1.7% in 2023 to 18.8% in 2025, reaching 29.4% in the first five months of 2026.
PhD graduates who employed AI in their dissertations were 17% less likely to work in academia compared to those who did not use AI, but 16% more likely to be employed in industry. The findings indicate that AI's presence in scientific literature has increased significantly, prompting concerns about the depth of understanding among students who rely on AI. Researchers emphasize the importance of rigorous research training, particularly when exploring areas with incomplete or uncertain knowledge.
Written by urgent.news from Nature's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
