This systematic review examines how ChatGPT is integrated into scientific research, assessing its contributions to hypothesis generation, academic writing, data analysis, and educational support across various fields. Utilising thirteen peer-reviewed and editorial sources from 2023 to 2024, the study evaluates the advantages and challenges of ChatGPT in driving scientific innovation. Although ChatGPT improves research efficiency and accessibility, concerns about authorship ethics, misinformation, bias, and transparency remain. The review highlights a disciplinary divide in the use of ChatGPT—varying from enthusiastic application in materials science to cautious approaches in public health and policy. It concludes by underscoring the necessity for ethical frameworks, methodological rigor, and interdisciplinary guidelines to promote the responsible integration of AI in scientific processes.