Emerald Publishing’s stance on AI tools in content creation and the peer review process

Following the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2022 and the subsequent emergence of a multitude of other Large Language Models and AI tools, Emerald released a statement in February 2023 detailing its stance on the question of generative AI tools and authorship. 

Specifically, that as those tools cannot take accountability for the work generated and be responsible for that content, they cannot be credited with the authorship of any Emerald publication, and the use of generative AI tools within the development of an Emerald publication must be flagged by the author(s) within the article, case study, or chapter, as well as at submission.

Emerald has since developed and updated its policies on the use of AI tools and Large Language Models with regard to both the creation of academic content and the peer review process. As such, to maintain trust in the integrity of the published record, Emerald does not permit the use of AI tools or Large Language Models to assist in the review, evaluation, or decision-making process of any part of an article, case study, or chapter by either a member of a journal’s Editorial Team or a reviewer, in accordance with Emerald’s principles of peer review. Responsibility for the work created and accountability for its accuracy, integrity, and validity, in alignment with our authorship criteria, further directs Emerald’s position with regard to not permitting the copywriting and creation of any part of an article, case study, or chapter via an AI tool or Large Language Model. The copy-editing of an article in this manner in order to improve its language and readability is, however, permissible as this mirrors standard tools already employed to improve spelling and grammar, and uses existing author-created material, rather than generating wholly new content, while the author(s) remains responsible for the original work. Emerald also does not permit the submission and publication of images created by AI tools or large-scale generative models. Further details on these policies can be found with Emerald’s Publishing Ethics and should be used in conjunction with our other guidance there.

As a publisher committed to integrity and transparency, we recognise that there is a place for the responsible use of AI tools that support editorial and publishing workflows, without detrimental impact to the core processes underpinning them or affecting the quality of the research content itself. Emerald again acknowledges that this area will continue to evolve at pace within the sector, and we will monitor these developments to ensure that our own usage, alongside our guidance and policies, continues to reflect industry best practice standards so that our publications remain committed to high-quality, trusted academic content, and that our practices and workflows remain transparent for our authors and readers. 
 

ENDS

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About Emerald Publishing

Founded by management scholars in 1967, and now part of the Cambridge Information Group, Emerald Publishing provides a range of publishing services to help researchers tell their stories in a meaningful and timely way, providing innovative tools and services to build confidence and capability in impactful research. As a proud signatory of DORA, Emerald is committed to establishing new pathways to impact, making research more accessible, and helping communities make decisions that change their world for the better.

For over 50 years Emerald's core purpose has been to champion fresh thinkers and help them make a difference so that little by little those in academia or in practice can unite to bring positive change in the real world. Emerald Publishing is proud to be Highly Commended for the Alison Morrison Diversity and Inclusivity Award in the Independent Publishers Guild's Independent Publishing Awards 2023.

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Tom Shiels
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Emerald Publishing
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