Citing Less Critically: LLMs Reshape the Rhetoric and Reach of Scientific Citation

Research indicates that Large Language Models (LLMs) used in scientific writing may alter the rhetorical intent of citations compared to human authors. A study employing a masked-citation task found that LLM-generated citation sentences differ in what, whom, and how they cite, potentially influencing the perceived support, contrast, or neutrality of cited works.

This research is strategically important because the increasing integration of LLMs into scientific communication could fundamentally reshape how knowledge is attributed, supported, or challenged. It highlights potential shifts in the rhetorical landscape of academic discourse, impacting the perception of scientific consensus and dissent within and across disciplines.

Scientific citations inherently carry rhetorical intent, categorized as positive (supporting), negative (contrasting), or neutral (mentioning).

Forward consideration, not a verified fact.