Authorship in the age of artificial intelligence

Purpose In this paper, the evolving boundaries between human- and machine-generated content are examined through the lens of Foucault’s (2002) conceptualizations of authorship and associated ethical considerations in the interest of ensuring quality representation and organization of knowledge. Design/methodology/approach Critical review of implications of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies on authorship through the lens of ethical norms and standards of the biosphere. Findings The ethical norms and standards of the biosphere are well-aligned with Foucault’s conceptualization of work and authorship and promote a deep understanding of how content can be evaluated. Originality/value This paper argues that implementing the ethical norms and standards of the biosphere within the information environment and incorporating established principles of accountability, fairness, equity and transparency into knowledge representation, organization and discovery systems are crucial steps toward fostering ethical and democratic systems of knowledge representation, organization and discovery.