The rise of AI-driven language: A bibliometric analysis of ChatGPT-specific terms in scientific writing

Abstract

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly ChatGPT, has introduced new dynamics in scientific writing, influencing both content and style. This study aims to analyze the frequency and trends of ChatGPT-specific terms in scientific literature. The study utilized a bibliometric analysis approach, leveraging the Scopus database to track the frequency of ChatGPT-specific keywords like "Intricate," "Harnessing," "Leverage," "Transformative," and "Revolutionize" from inception to June 17th, 2024. Two control terms, "Biology" and "Medicine," were also analyzed for comparison. The analysis revealed a significant rise in the usage of ChatGPT-specific terms in scientific writing, particularly in recent years. The relative publication frequency was measured by calculating the ratio of the number of publications from 2022 to 2024 to the total number of publications from the inception of the database to 2021. The analysis showed that "Intricate" had a high relative frequency of 0.741. Similarly, "Transformative" had a relative frequency of 0.613, while "Revolutionize" and "Leverage" followed closely with 0.589 and 0.578, respectively. In contrast, traditional terms like "Biology" and "Medicine" had much lower relative frequencies of 0.131 and 0.146, respectively. The increasing frequency of AI-specific terms suggests a shift in the linguistic landscape of scientific literature.