Ethics Clinic: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Ethics

MODERATOR: Jennifer Mahar Managing Editor Origin Editorial, part of KGL Editorial Evolution SPEAKERS: Paul Graham Fisher Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, Stanford University COPE Council Member Editor-in-Chief, The Journal of Pediatrics Sara Kate Heukerott Associate Director of Publications Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) REPORTER: Madeline Talbot Associate Editor Wolters Kluwer Each year, the CSE Annual Meeting hosts an Ethics Clinic sponsored by the CSE Editorial Policy Committee. In this interactive session, speakers present real-life cases to facilitate group discussions of ethical dilemmas that arise in scholarly publishing. Attendees discuss potential approaches and solutions, and speakers share strategies and case outcomes. This year’s Ethics Clinic expanded on the meeting’s focus on AI in scholarly publishing. Key Takeaways AI is not going away; the use of AI by authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers is inevitable. Stigma toward AI will only make scholarly publishing’s management of it more difficult. By understanding and embracing AI, scholarly publishing can ensure it is used ethically by all parties. Clear and detailed AI policies for authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers are crucial. An AI policy should be a living document that changes as the technology and its uses continue to develop. AI policies for scholarly publishing should define what uses of AI and which AI tools and large language models (LLMs) are acceptable. Policies should also outline when disclosure of AI use is required. Transparency is vital. AI use should be disclosed by authors, reviewers, editorial offices, and publishers alike. Disclosure can help all parties determine […]