AI & the Research Cycle (Phase III: Writing, Peer Review & Publishing)
Scope
The Invisible Hand of AI: Credibility, Credit, and the New Research Workflow
AI is rapidly becoming integrated into every stage of the research and scholarly publishing process. Researchers are using tools like ChatGPT and Grammarly to draft abstracts, refine arguments, and polish their writing. Publishers are piloting automated systems to streamline peer review and manuscript submission workflows. Meanwhile, editors are experimenting with or deploying AI-powered tools to detect plagiarism, assess manuscript quality, and manage editorial decisions.
However, this technological shift exists in a complex landscape of uncertainty and mixed attitudes. Many institutions lack clear policies on AI use, leaving researchers unsure about what's acceptable or required to disclose. Some researchers report concerns about professional judgment or questions about authenticity when using AI tools, though the extent and impact of these concerns varies across disciplines and career stages. Journal editors are grappling with how to evaluate AI-assisted work fairly, while publishers struggle to develop ethical frameworks that balance innovation with research integrity. The result is a patchwork of informal practices, conflicting guidelines, and professional uncertainty about appropriate use and disclosure.
By examining AI integration through multiple professional lenses—researcher, editor, publisher, and librarian—we aim to build a more complete understanding of the opportunities, challenges, and emerging questions facing scholarly communication today.
Confirmed speakers include Laurie Bridges, Director AI Literacy Center, OSU Libraries; Leslie McIntosh, VP of Research Integrity, Digital Science; and Marie Souliére, Head of Editorial Ethics and Quality Assurance, Frontiers. Cynthia Hudson Vitale, Associate Dean Technology Strategy & Digital Services, Johns Hopkins University, will serve as the moderator for this program.
Event Sessions
Speakers
Cynthia Hudson Vitale, Associate Dean Technology Strategy & Digital Services, Johns Hopkins University, served as the moderator for this program.
In anticipation of the discussion, the following questions have been posed to our speakers:
What’s one specific way AI is changing expectations in your part of the research and scholarly communications workflow - and where is that creating friction?
What’s driving the disconnect between widespread AI adoption and reluctance to discuss it openly?
What would it take to normalize conversations about AI assistance in scholarly work?
Related Information and Shared Resources:
AI Literacy Center (Oregon State University): Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to technologies that enable machines to perform tasks such as processing language, detecting patterns, or generating content. Generative AI (GenAI) is a category of AI that creates new material—such as text, images, or music—by identifying and applying patterns it has learned from existing data.
The AI Literacy Center is dedicated to providing the OSU community with the information needed to use GenAI tools thoughtfully. We’re not here to tell you to use GenAI; instead, we’re here to help you make informed choices in an environment where AI is increasingly present.
Is it OK for AI to write science papers? Nature survey shows researchers are split: Poll of 5,000 researchers finds contrasting views on when it’s acceptable to involve AI and what needs to be disclosed.
AI Tool Evaluation Checklist (From JHU Sheridan Libraries: This project provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating AI tools for use within a library context. It includes detailed instructions and a checklist covering key areas such as usability, accuracy, accessibility, privacy, ethical considerations, environmental impact, integration, and customization. The goal is to facilitate an objective and thorough assessment of AI tools, ensuring their suitability and alignment with library needs and values. There are two accompanying checklist aids (Microsoft Word and PDF) in this repository and below are the instructions and guidance on using the checklists.
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