Generative AI and academic publishing

Generative AI holds the potential to significantly transform academic publishing by enhancing the writing process, optimizing peer review, and broadening research dissemination. However, this promise is accompanied by notable risks related to accountability, integrity, and bias (Májovský et al. 2023). To date, the dialogue surrounding the potential and perils of AI has predominantly been spearheaded by the natural sciences, particularly medicine (Misra et al., 2023). Several publishers have issued policies on AI use in publications and Journal of Management Studies has launched their own manifesto on responsible use of generative AI (Gatrell et al. 2024). The advice offered follows the general lines of first order principles such as accountability and responsibility, rather than hard lines, which is unsurprising given the novelty and ever-changing nature of the topic. This Professional Development Workshop (PDW) seeks to extend the conversation to explore specific implications of generative AI in the realm of management studies publishing (Budhwar et al., 2023; Gatrell et al. 2024). The session will commence by exploring the advantages offered by AI tools, such as aiding non-native English speakers in manuscript preparation (Kacena et al., 2024), delivering instantaneous feedback (Lund et al., 2023), and automating the initial screening of manuscripts (Lund et al., 2023). The ability of AI to democratize access to scientific knowledge is contrasted with urgent ethical considerations like the question of authorship (Lee et al., 2023), concerns of plagiarism, and preserving the integrity of scientific communication (Májovský et al., 2023), intellectual property rights (Inam et al., 2024), as well as the potential for ingrained biases (Lund et al., 2023). This workshop will delve into these complex issues, aiming to provide attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the influence of AI on academic publishing and the ability to ethically navigate its use. Participants will examine the latest guidelines from academic publishers in the field of management and discuss the ethical integration of AI into scholarly communication, thereby ensuring the quality and integrity of academic outputs.