AI is making up academic papers and that’s a serious problem New reports show AI tools are hallucinating academic studies that don’t exist. For people researching health, policy, or science, this sets a dangerous precedent. Fake citations can spread misinformation, distort debates, and make it harder to tell what’s real from what’s not. Why this matters When false studies are treated as real, trust in research breaks down. Bad data can influence decisions in medicine, education, and public polic