The Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC) has made an important editorial announcement that addresses the appropriate and inappropriate uses of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in manuscript preparation and review for publication.
The editorial, co-authored by Roger Colbran, a professor of molecular physiology and biophysics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and Editor-in-Chief Alex Toker of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, sheds light on the evolving role of AI in the scientific publishing industry.
AI's Limitations on a Manuscript
The editorial acknowledged the potential of AI technology to enhance manuscript text clarity. It can be used to help improve the readability and coherence of scientific papers, benefitting authors and readers alike.
However, the JBC explicitly clarifies that AI cannot be listed as an author on a manuscript. This decision aligns with the essential role that human researchers play in contributing to scientific knowledge.
Furthermore, the editorial emphasizes that AI should not be involved in any part of the review process. While AI algorithms can be powerful tools, they lack the expertise and understanding human reviewers bring.
Hence, the editorial noted that human judgment and interpretation are essential components of a thorough and fair review process. Colbran acknowledged the challenges in navigating the limitations of AI in real-life applications.
He emphasized the importance of defining clear policies that delineate acceptable and unacceptable uses of current AI-based technologies in science publishing.
"The rapid development and continued evolution of AI-based tools makes it hard to get a handle on their limitations in real-life use," Colbran said in a statement.
"These uncertainties make it important for the publishing industry, including the JBC, to define clear policies surrounding the acceptable and unacceptable uses of current AI-based technologies, with a clear understanding that they will need to be regularly updated as the technologies are further developed," he added.
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JBC Welcomes the Use of Generative AI
Interestingly, the editorial recognizes AI's potential benefits to non-native English speakers in preparing manuscripts for submission. The JBC welcomes authors to use generative AI technologies to edit their manuscripts, similar to how they might employ traditional editing services.
In such cases, if AI is employed for manuscript editing, authors are expected to acknowledge its use in the acknowledgments section of the paper.
Colbran highlighted the potential impact of AI-driven tools in streamlining various aspects of scientific research and writing. These tools can potentially reduce the time and effort required for tasks such as writing research articles, reviews, book chapters, grants, and manuscript or grant critiques.
However, the editorial noted that AI cannot be used for manuscript review, including writing critiques or decision letters. Using AI in this context may raise concerns about data privacy rights and confidentiality.
The editorial cautions against uploading manuscripts to public AI tools as this could potentially expose sensitive information, jeopardizing confidentiality and integrity.
Furthermore, using AI tools for generating raw image data, like gels, blots, and micrographs, is discouraged due to concerns about the authenticity of synthesized data. Identifying such manipulations in existing image analysis pipelines may present challenges.
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