The perils of artificial intelligence in academic publishing*

This essay aims to reflect on the potentially perilous implications of artificial intelligence in academic publishing. Our main point is that the colonization of academia by artificial intelligence technologies may erode, deskill and degrade core academic activities, where the role of key actors historically involved in the evaluation of research could become less and less tangible and significant. We are concerned particularly with the gradual removal of human involvement in journal editor and reviewer roles, as artificial intelligence and automated expert systems become increasingly influential across a range of tasks and judgments historically carried out and performed by people. Although these thoughts are exploratory, we believe it is imperative that researchers from all paradigmatic allegiances and geographies engage in initiatives that document, reflect, and debate the implications of artificial intelligence on the ways we evaluate research. The future of academic publishing as a meaningful human activity is at stake.

Automated summary

This essay reflects on the potential dangerous implications of artificial intelligence in academic publishing. The author is concerned about the erosion, deskill, and degradation of core academic activities due to the increasing influence of AI technologies. They specifically worry about the diminishing roles of human involvement as AI and automated expert systems take over tasks traditionally performed by people, such as journal editor and reviewer roles. The author calls for researchers from all backgrounds and locations to engage in initiatives that document, reflect upon, and discuss the implications of AI on research evaluation.