SnappShot is Springer Nature’s in-house AI-assisted tool for checking image integrity, developed by its AI Lab and Research Integrity Group. It is web-based and connected to Springer Nature’s submission systems, and the first version, rolled out in December 2023, checks PDFs for duplicated gel and blot images within the same article. It flags images for a person to assess. Springer Nature plans to extend it to microscopy duplication, image plagiarism and other image types. In August 2025 Springer Nature said it was still developing SnappShot for its Snapp editorial platform, and that it used Proofig to screen images in life sciences manuscripts for Nature and all Nature Research journals.
Benefits & outcomes
- Springer Nature reports that beta testers have used SnappShot to retract or withdraw dozens of articles with image integrity issues.
Notes & quotes
- Chris Graf, Director of Research Integrity at Springer Nature, describes the threat the tools address as “a determined, malicious threat from paper mills or bad actors”.
Publisher / company: Springer Nature
Date of case study: 2023
Status: Live
Built by: Publisher or platform
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