Efficiency vs. Integrity: The AI Dilemma
Profit Over Progress: The Commercialization Crisis
A Call for Transparency, Accountability & Ethics
- Accountability as foundation: Develop ethical frameworks governing AI use in publishing, e.g. require “AI Impact Statements” from journals adopting these tools.
- Transparency in implementation: Not just authors, publishers and journals must also disclose how AI tools are used (e.g. in peer review or editing process). Editors must mandate human oversight; no algorithm should alter content without expert verification.
- Equity in outcomes: Channel AI-driven cost savings into reduced publishing fees; these savings should directly benefit authors and readers, not just publishers. The research community should also support transitions to non-profit publishing models, following successful examples like NeuroImage’s 2023 shift to Imaging Neuroscience.
Why This Matters for Your Research
These conflicts aren’t abstract—they directly impact what gets published, how it is framed, and who can afford to participate. As you choose where to submit:
- Scrutinize journal’s AI policies
- Advocate for open and transparent peer review
- Support initiatives led by editors to reform publishing ethics
The JHE resignation isn’t an endpoint, but a catalyst. By demanding ethical AI use and equitable access, researchers can reclaim academic publishing’s core mission: disseminating knowledge, not corporate revenue growth.
By Kevin Ho | Aster Zhao
February 14, 2025
More Readings
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- Evolution journal editors resign en masse [UPDATED] (Ars Technica, 31 Dec 2024)
- Evolution journal editors resign en masse to protest Elsevier changes (Retraction Watch, 27 Dec 2024)
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Tags: AI publishing, peer review, scholarly communications
published February 14, 2025