AI Revolution in Academic Peer Review: Over Half of Researchers Ignore Guidelines

According to a new survey by Frontiers of 1,600 researchers worldwide, over 50% of scholars are using AI tools during peer review, with nearly a quarter increasing their AI usage in the past year. The survey reveals that among researchers using AI, 59% leverage it to write review reports, 29% for summarizing manuscripts or checking references, and 28% for identifying potential academic misconduct. Although most publishers, including Frontiers, prohibit uploading unpublished manuscripts to third-party chat websites to ensure confidentiality, there’s a significant gap between actual usage and guidelines. Elena Vicario, Head of Research Integrity at Frontiers, emphasizes that AI should be used responsibly in peer review and calls on publishers to develop policies better adapted to the ‘new reality’. This survey reveals the widespread application of AI technology in academic publishing and the ethical challenges it brings, providing important insights for the tech industry on how AI is transforming traditional academic processes.