Do early career researchers consider AI as an opportunity or a threat? A pathfinding study.

Abstract

The article presents the latest (2025) iteration of the Harbingers longitudinal project on early career researchers (ECRs), artificial intelligence (AI), and scholarly communications. In conversation with a convenience sample of more than 60 ECRs in 6 countries and numerous subjects, we present an evaluation of a pressing issue: what impact will AI have on their work and career? An important issue given widespread media speculation that it is entry-level positions that will be hit hardest by AI. While ECRs were asked 50 plus questions during interviews none directly asked about job security/changes and employment prospects, instead data was voluntarily yielded in answering related AI questions. Adding a new methodological dimension to the Harbingers project we employed AI (NotebookLM) to provide an initial analysis the interview data. The conclusions were that AI is a double-edged sword which has huge potential as well as posing significant challenges. The NotebookLM report was validated by all interviewers who thought it highly plausible and best at setting out themes, but less able to highlight differences nor identify interesting or unusual cases. Finally, given that we were working with a convenience and relatively small sample to inform a larger study the data should be seen as illuminating and filling a real research vacuum, rather than as providing a definitive result, if that is is at all possible in a fast-changing field.

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