80,150
▲ 26% vs 2024
AI-related publications in the natural sciences in 2025
20102025

What the chart shows

The AI Index counted about 80,150 AI-related publications in the natural sciences in the Web of Science in 2025, up 26% from 63,547 in 2024 and 28 times the 2,874 of 2010.

The physical sciences had the most, 33,045 (up 27%), followed by the life sciences with 28,911 (up 28%) and Earth science with 20,459 (up 23%). Growth sped up after 2018: the total more than doubled between 2019 and 2021, from 16,550 to 37,120.

Key numbers

MeasureValue
All natural sciences, 202580,150
All natural sciences, 202463,547
Physical sciences, 202533,045
Life sciences, 202528,911
Earth science, 202520,459
All natural sciences, 20102,874

How to read it

  • Publications in Web of Science natural science categories that the AI Index classifies as AI-related.
  • A paper can belong to more than one field, so the natural sciences total (80,150 in 2025) is lower than the sum of the three fields (82,415).
  • Physical sciences include astronomy, chemistry, geology, mathematics, meteorology, oceanography and physics, among others.
Source: AI Index, 2026, via the AI Index Report 2026 (Stanford HAI), figure 5.1.1: Number of AI-related publications in natural sciences, 2010–25. Chart and text by AI Adoption.
Numbers checked against the published data on 20 October 2026.
Download the data (CSV) · Cite this chart