On 21 October, during International Open Access Week, the YERUN ad hoc group on Open Science hosted an inspiring webinar titled “Artificial Intelligence in Open Science.”
Thanks to the insightful contributions of our expert speakers, Ana Meštrović, Full Professor at the Faculty of Informatics and Digital Technologies, University of Rijeka; Gerasimos (Jerry) Spanakis, Assistant Professor in Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing at Maastricht University; Lars Ailo Bongo, Professor in Health Technology at the Department of Computer Science, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway; and Iva Melinščak Zlodi, Librarian at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, the discussion went well beyond theory. Together, they explored practical examples of how Artificial Intelligence is influencing openness, transparency, and integrity in research and education, offering first hand experiences of AI’s growing influence in academia, classrooms, and research training.
The discussion centred on the intersection between Open Science (OS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), examining how both are transforming the research and education landscape though in very different ways. Open Science was described as a reform movement grounded in clear ethical and ideological principles: to make research more transparent, accessible, and inclusive. It has reached a stage of maturity where both its benefits and its challenges are visible, including new forms of inequality that call for innovative solutions. Artificial Intelligence, on the other hand, was identified as a fast-evolving technological development that influences every aspect of research and academia. The speakers agreed that AI cannot simply be accepted or rejected, it must be approached critically and ethically, with thoughtful strategies to ensure its responsible use.
A major theme of the webinar was the relationship between openness and AI, and the crucial importance of open data, open-source code, and transparent AI models. Speakers emphasised that openness is not a binary concept but a continuum with many dimensions, from data availability and licensing to accessibility and interoperability. Libraries were highlighted as key actors in this ecosystem, playing a vital role in ensuring that research repositories are both discoverable and verifiable. At the same time, speakers expressed concerns about maintaining linguistic and cultural diversity in research outputs, warning that AI assisted writing may contribute to a kind of linguistic blandness. The discussion underscored the importance of preserving language richness and cultural nuance while enhancing discoverability through improved metadata and multilingual language models.
The conversation also addressed the legal and ethical challenges of using AI in research. Speakers stressed the need for clear legal frameworks, open licenses, and transparent terms of use to guide ethical AI development. Issues of multilingualism and inclusion received particular attention, especially concerning smaller or less-resourced languages that risk being marginalised in AI development. Open Science practices were described as a way to foster a more equitable AI ecosystem, ensuring fair access to data, tools, and opportunities for all communities.
A part of the discussion focused on indigenous data and ethical AI. Speakers emphasised the need for culturally sensitive AI systems and warned of the risks of economic and linguistic marginalisation if indigenous groups are excluded. The broader message was clear: AI and Open Science together can promote trustworthy, inclusive, and transparent research, but only if ethical, cultural, and linguistic dimensions remain central.
A key takeaway for universities was the call for a cultural shift, encouraging researchers to see AI not as a threat but as a collaborative tool. When guided by open and ethical principles, AI has the potential to enrich both science and society, helping build a more transparent and inclusive research environment.
YERUN warmly thanks all the speakers for their insightful contributions and the many participants for their engagement and questions.
Special recognition goes to the YERUN Ad Hoc Group on Open Science for organising such an inspiring webinar.
Couldn’t join us live? You can now watch the full webinar here.
