Navigating the Paradigm Shift: Risks, Regulations, and Governance of Academic Publishing in the Age of AIGC

The rapid rise of artificial intelligence–generated content (AIGC) is significantly reshaping traditional models of academic publishing, precipitating a paradigm shift that presents unprecedented challenges and opportunities. This article provides a critical conceptual analysis of the transformative impact of AIGC on scholarly communication through the lens of risk governance. Through a structured review of interdisciplinary literature and theoretical synthesis, the study illuminates the inadequacies of existing legal frameworks in data protection and artificial intelligence (AI) regulation, examining emerging risks from academic fraud and intellectual property disputes to privacy breaches. Drawing on multi-stakeholder perspectives and international best practices, the research proposes an innovative collaborative governance framework that synergizes legal regulations, technological self-governance, and industry oversight. The article argues for proactive, adaptive, and inclusive governance approaches that can harness the potential of AIGC to democratize knowledge production while mitigating its disruptive risks. This theoretical contribution offers timely insights for policymakers, technologists, and academic stakeholders navigating the evolving landscape of AI-powered scholarly communication.