If You Really Want to Know How AI Is Changing Peer Review Talk to Early Career Researchers

ABSTRACT

The Harbingers study of early career researchers (ECRs), their work life and scholarly communications, began by studying generational—Millennial—change (H1 c.2016), then pandemic change (H2 c2020) and is now investigating yet another: artificial intelligence (H3 2024–). We report here on a scoping pilot study, which looks at the impact of AI on peer review from over 150 international ECRs from all disciplines. The data were collected by open‐ended, in‐depth interviews, but being a convenience sample the findings need to be treated with caution. We find that ECRs are displaying a complex, shifting attitude towards the integration of AI into peer review, characterised by cautious optimism on the one hand and scepticism on the other. ECRs are already reporting specific instances of AI increasingly influencing reviewing practices: both potentially beneficial applications and actual misuse. AI is seen as a new systemic threat, potentially worsening the alleged exploitative nature of publishing if adopted without ethical guidelines.