ExplanAItions 2025 full report - coming soon!
We’ve refreshed our robust study exploring specific use cases of AI across research. We’ve added new questions to unlock new insights and will shine a light on what’s changed since our last study.
See a summary preview of our findings here and be sure to sign up to get the full report with additional insights straight to your inbox as soon as it’s published.
Welcome to the ExplanAItions site! This is the place to click around, explore, and deepen your knowledge on how AI is being applied in the research process. Our comprehensive study examines AI's role in research and reveals fascinating insights into where researchers worldwide are and are not embracing artificial intelligence. Through detailed analysis of 43 AI applications across the research lifecycle, we've uncovered compelling trends to share with you. Before you get started, here are a few key takeaways.
While researchers currently focus on select AI applications, they anticipate rapid expansion across all research activities. Remarkably, most researchers believe AI already exceeds human performance in more than half of the studied use cases, signaling strong confidence in AI capabilities.
China and Germany are leading in the use of AI within the research process, with adoption rates of 59% and 57% respectively—much higher than the global average of 44%. However, researchers worldwide share common challenges, with over 60% pointing to insufficient guidelines and training as key barriers to their increased AI adoption.
Different fields show varying appetites for AI adoption. Computer Science and Medicine emerge as pioneers, with 44% and 38% of researchers respectively eager to be early adopters. Life Sciences researchers take a more measured approach, showing careful consideration in AI adoption while maintaining practical implementation rates on par with other fields.
A clear consensus emerges across all demographics: researchers are looking to publishers for leadership. Approximately 70% of participants express a desire for clear guidelines on AI use in scholarly research and support in avoiding potential pitfalls.
Extensive AI author guidelines coming from Wiley in the next few months! Click here to sign up.
For two centuries, Wiley’s mission has been to support the creation and sharing of knowledge that moves our world forward. From the early printing press to high-powered digital tools, we have led the charge, embracing innovation while keeping human creativity, critical thinking, and ethics at the center of what we do. We now stand at the edge of a new transformative era with AI. Wiley is committed to leading in this space, not simply by adopting technology, but by actively shaping it. Our customers’ and partners’ needs ground our approach.
We're shaping the future of AI, not being shaped by it.
Our goal is to understand how AI is applied today, explore near-term opportunities, and imagine future possibilities. The Wiley AI Framework places these three points in time to help our community put science into action with the thoughtful assistance of AI.
Current use cases where AI already makes a difference and there’s high interest
Near-term opportunities with high interest and growing AI capabilities
“Stretch” and ambitious use cases that are not yet feasible or strongly desired but have the potential to address future needs