EXCLUSIVEFORSUBSCRIBERSFake academic journals are publishing AI-generated papers under real professors’ namesOnline academic journals falsely attributed articles, likely written by AI, to several professors, who say the fiasco is a warning about the future of scientific knowledge.AI-generated academic papers are using names of real academics, further fueling an AI crisis in academia.Leila Register / NBC News; Getty ImagesMay 26, 2026, 10:14 AM EDTA network of fake academic journals masquerading as legitimate publications has published more than a hundred AI-generated papers in recent months, in some cases using the names of real professors at top universities without their knowledge.Just a moment.We are getting your experience ready.