Top-11 global university professor resigns after AI-generated fake citations found

By Phong Ngo December 19, 2025 | 01:26 am PT

Professor Paul Yip Siu-fai of the University of Hong Kong has stepped down as an associate dean after the school found a paper he co-authored contained fake AI-generated references.

HKU, ranked 11th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026, confirmed on Wednesday that "certain citations" in a paper by Yip and his doctoral student Bai Yiming included non-existent publications generated by AI.

Yip apologized on behalf of himself and Bai, saying the lead author had used AI to assist with referencing but failed to verify the citations, and that he only learned of the issue after the allegations circulated online.

Yip has also stepped down as associate dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and withdrawn from research committees at both the faculty and university levels, the South China Morning Post reported.

Professor Paul Yip Siu-fai from University of Hong Kong. Photo courtesy of HKU

It emerged last month that at least 20 of the 61 references in the paper titled "Forty years of fertility transition in Hong Kong," published on Oct. 17 with Yip listed as the corresponding author, appeared to cite non-existent publications, prompting HKU to launch a formal inquiry.

Springer Nature, the journal’s publisher, issued an online retraction note earlier this week, acknowledging that the editorial office had overlooked the verification of the references.

HKU said it would introduce mandatory training and assessments for all researchers to ensure strict compliance with academic integrity rules related to artificial intelligence.

"HKU reiterates its commitment to rigorous academic and research standards," the university said. "All researchers at HKU are required to ensure their work meets internationally recognised benchmarks for quality and ethical conduct."

Yip is a prominent academic in Hong Kong and has held influential advisory and leadership roles within government and semi-government bodies, particularly in public health, suicide prevention, and education.

He currently serves on the Advisory Committee on Mental Health under the Health Bureau and previously chaired the Committee on Prevention of Student Suicides, established by the Education Bureau in 2016.