AI is saving time and money in research — but at what cost?

Nature's publication of an article highlighting the growing reliance on artificial intelligence tools in research, despite concerns over the potential costs, marks a significant shift in the academic community's perception of AI's role. This development has significant implications for website owners, particularly those in the academic or research sectors, as it may lead to an increase in AI-generated traffic to their sites. As researchers become more reliant on AI tools, website owners may see a surge in bot traffic, which can impact their site's performance, security, and overall user experience. Furthermore, the potential for AI-generated content to be used in research may also raise concerns about copyright and intellectual property. To mitigate these risks, website owners can take several steps: (1) monitor their site's traffic and adjust their bot management strategies accordingly, (2) review and update their llms.txt files to ensure they are properly configured to handle AI-generated traffic, and (3) consider implementing measures to detect and prevent AI-generated content from being used on their site without proper attribution or permission.