𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆

Artificial Intelligence tools can make academic writing easier. However, the rise of Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and other Large Language Models (LLMs) have raised important questions about ethics, authenticity, and transparency in research communication.

As researchers, we seek novel scientific contributions while maintaining high standards of academic integrity and GenAI can help with communication. At the same time, journal editors are challenged with upholding rigorous standards in the face of potential 'misuse' of AI in the publication process and are developing policies.

𝙈𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙖𝙡:

Just as we share data in supplemental information, we should record and be prepared to 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 (a record of the instructions and queries given to the AI during the writing process) when using tools like ChatGPT. This practice offers:

-𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆: Prompt logs clearly differentiate between researcher-authored ideas and those generated by AI, ensuring clarity and accountability regarding author contributions.

-𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: Sharing prompt logs with reviewers can support ethical standards in academic publishing and provide transparency during the editorial review process, fostering trust between authors, reviewers, and editors.

Co-authors, reviewers, and editors are understandably concerned about the role of Generative AI in manuscript writing. Questions about plagiarism and unintended misattributions are real and valid.

That said, AI tools can offer significant advantages. Beyond efficiency, they can 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵-𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 publish in predominantly English-language journals and 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 by breaking down some writing barriers. Scientific editors have long supported writing efforts - AI can be an analogous and complementary tool in our toolkit.

By keeping prompt logs, we can address some of the concerns about AI misuse, promote transparency, and foster trust in AI-assisted research.