We're delighted to have Prof. Licia Verde talking to us on Monday at 4 pm ET. Licia is the editor and scientific director of Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics (JCAP).

AI and Scientific Publishing

Examine the evolving landscape of scientific publishing in the era of AI. Explore how Large Language Models impact the balance between paper generation and peer review, and the challenges of maintaining quality control.

Speaker

Licia Verde, U. of Barcelona/JCAP

Abstract

I will explore how artificial intelligence and the power and broad accessibility of large language models is affecting scientific publishing. AI can generate ideas, methods, and manuscripts faster than any human. The rise of AI-assisted writing is driving a surge in low-quality submissions, placing unprecedented strain on journal editorial and peer review systems. I will highlight the resulting challenges for maintaining quality, efficiency, and trust in scientific publishing, and discuss possible strategies to manage this growing burden.

The modern concept of the scientific paper dates back to the late 17th century, but the nature of scientific endeavor has changed dramatically. I will speculate that AI may now drive a cultural shift in how we conceive of and manage scientific dissemination.

Topics Covered

• The evolution and features of academic publishing
• Bibliometrics, the 'Publish or Perish' culture, and Goodhart's Law
• The impact of LLMs on the volume and quality of submissions
• AI 'slop', paper mills, and the effort imbalance in peer review
• The future of quality assurance in scientific literature

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