Single-author papers surge 70% in math fields as AI aids research

The study, published on arXiv, notes that the growth isn’t driven by a few hyperproductive authors but reflects more scientists publishing independently. arXiv’s submission data shows a 17% rise in non-AI submissions since late 2025, coinciding with the release of agentic AI models. The author warns that AI’s role in research may blur intellectual credit lines, raising questions about copyright and authorship standards. The paper also questions whether submission volume still reflects scientific rigor, especially in fields like mathematics where proof standards are high.