Academic discourse at the intersection of eras: editing between tradition and artificial intelligence

This research aims to determine the main directions in the development of editorial and publishing practices in the Russian academic environment and to trace the changing role of the editor in the scientific communication system over a significant historical period – from the 18th century to the first quarter of the 21st century. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the identification and scientific description of stable models of transformation of the editorial function in domestic scientific discourse, previously not represented in linguistic research. It is shown for the first time that the function of the scientific editor has undergone systemic changes related not only to technological development and digitalization, but also to changes in conceptual frameworks. It is established that in the context of the integration of artificial intelligence, editorial activity acquires new semiotic and ethical parameters, and the editor plays the role of a mediator between the author, the text, and the academic community. The article briefly characterizes the current trends that determine changes in editorial activity, including the influence of historical transformations in society, technological progress, scientometrics, and digitalization. Particular attention is paid to the challenges associated with scientific misconduct and the limitations of digital platforms. The results obtained showed that despite the widespread introduction of automated systems, as well as artificial intelligence, in publishing in general, and in editorial activities related to academic publications, in particular, the participation of a qualified editor remains a necessary condition for compliance with publication ethics, ensuring scientific reliability, logical structure, and linguistic accuracy of texts.