The advent of ChatGPT by OpenAI has prompted extensive discourse on its potential implications for science and higher education. While the impact on education has been a primary focus, there is limited empirical research on the effects of large language models (LLMs) and LLM-based chatbots on science and scientific practice. To investigate this further, we conducted a Delphi study involving 72 experts specialising in research and AI. The study focused on applications and limitations of LLMs, their effects on the science system, ethical and legal considerations, and the required competencies for their effective use. Our findings highlight the transformative potential of LLMs in science, particularly in administrative, creative, and analytical tasks. However, risks related to bias, misinformation, and quality assurance need to be addressed through proactive regulation and science education. This research contributes to informed discussions on the impact of generative AI in science and helps identify areas for future action.

翻译：OpenAI推出的ChatGPT引发了关于其对科学和高等教育潜在影响的广泛讨论。尽管教育领域的影响备受关注，但关于大语言模型（LLMs）及基于LLM的聊天机器人对科学和科学实践影响的实证研究仍十分有限。为进一步探究这一问题，我们开展了一项德尔菲研究，邀请了72位专注于研究与人工智能领域的专家参与。本研究聚焦于LLM的应用与局限性、其对科学体系的影响、伦理与法律考量，以及有效运用LLM所需的能力。研究结果凸显了LLM在科学领域的变革潜力，尤其是在行政、创意和分析任务中。然而，与偏见、错误信息及质量保证相关的风险需要通过主动监管和科学教育加以应对。本研究有助于围绕生成式人工智能对科学的影响展开知情讨论，并帮助识别未来行动的方向。