Entire team of science journal resigns over AI editing

The editorial team of the Journal of Human Evolution (JHE) has resigned in response to actions taken by their publisher, Elsevier, which they claim undermined the integrity of their work, notably in relation to the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in their editorial processes.

In a public statement, the editors expressed their concerns not only about the publisher’s imposition of high subscription fees but also about significant changes to the editorial structure and responsibilities that they sayt have been made without consultation. They highlighted that these changes fundamentally contravened the ethos of the journal. The resignation was documented on the blog “Retraction Watch.”

A central point of contention for the editing team was the introduction of AI technology for the revision of articles, which took place in the autumn of 2023. This technology was deployed without any prior notification or consultation with the editorial staff, they said. AI’s involvement in the production process led to notable issues including the misediting of specific writing styles and modifications to texts that had already been formatted and approved by the editors.

According to the former employees, this situation was “extremely embarrassing” for the journal, and rectifying the problems caused by the AI’s interference took approximately six months, achieved only through “persistent efforts” from the editorial team.

Despite the apparent complications caused by this technology, the use of AI in editing procedures continues, routinely leading to alterations in submitted manuscripts that affect the intended meaning and format. The editorial staff indicated that these unapproved changes necessitated extensive oversight from both authors and editors during the correction phase, potentially hampering the efficiency of the editorial process.

The mass resignation of the JHE editorial team highlights a broader trend in the publishing industry. Since 2015, there have been a total of 36 documented mass resignations from research journals, and the frequency of such incidents appears to be increasing. However, the JHE resignation is particularly significant, as it is the first instance where AI is specifically cited as a primary factor.

Source: Noah Wire Services