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Category: Project

Description: This research protocol outlines a cross-sectional survey study aimed at investigating the attitudes and perceptions of biomedical journal editors-in-chief (EiCs) towards the use of artificial intelligence chatbots (AICs) in the scholarly publishing process. AICs, a form of generative AI, have the potential to revolutionize scholarly publishing by streamlining manuscript screening, enhancing peer review, and aiding in the detection of plagiarism and data fabrication. However, the integration of AICs into academic editing raises concerns about the reliability, accuracy, and ethical implications of these tools, particularly in detecting AI-generated content and ensuring data security. Given the growing interest in AI within academic publishing, this study seeks to capture the viewpoints of EiCs across multiple publishers and thousands of journals. The survey will assess EiCs’ familiarity with AICs, perceived benefits and challenges, and factors influencing their decision to adopt this technology. The methodology includes a systematic approach to identify and collect EiC contact information through web scraping and manual verification, followed by administering a closed, anonymous online survey. The study will provide valuable insights into EiCs’ perspectives on AICs at a critical time when these tools are becoming more integrated into scholarly publishing, potentially informing the development of guidelines for their ethical and effective use. Despite the strengths of a large and diverse sample, limitations include potential language barriers, underrepresentation of non-English-speaking EiCs, and challenges related to survey response rates. The findings of this study will contribute to the ongoing discourse on AI's role in academic publishing and help shape future practices in this evolving field.