AI's Role in Peer Review Under Scrutiny: A Call for Transparency

The increasing involvement of AI in the peer review process raises concerns about its impact on academic publishing. An academic's experience with AI-generated feedback highlights the need for transparency and oversight in AI's role in peer review, with calls for disclosure and accountability in its usage.

In the evolving landscape of academic publishing, there is growing unease over the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the peer review process. A recent experience by an academic unveiled the potential pitfalls associated with AI-generated feedback, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.

The researcher, who collaborates with esteemed organizations like the World Health Organisation, expressed concerns after receiving peculiar feedback on their manuscript. The comments bore a striking resemblance to outputs from AI models but lacked depth and specificity, raising questions about the integrity of the peer review process.

This incident serves as a poignant reminder of the necessity for journals and editors to establish stringent guidelines and oversight to ensure AI is used effectively, with authors being informed and offered the choice to opt out of AI-assisted reviews.

(With inputs from agencies.)