Paying peer reviewers: benefits, risks, and challenges.

Area of Science:

• Scholarly Communication
• Academic Publishing Ethics

Background:

• Peer review is fundamental to academic publishing, relying on voluntary expert services.
• Unlike commercial consultancy, expert review in publishing is often unremunerated, framed as a professional obligation.
• Journals face pressure to maintain peer review integrity amidst submission influx, risking accusations of fake or predatory practices if review is compromised.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the current model of academic peer review, highlighting its reliance on unpaid labor.
• To discuss the inherent risks and potential exploitation within the voluntary peer review system.
• To explore the emerging impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the future of peer review.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the current academic publishing landscape and its reliance on volunteer peer reviewers.
• Discussion of ethical considerations and risks associated with uncompensated expert review.
• Exploration of the potential implications of AI and large language models on scholarly peer review processes.

Main Results:

• The current system of academic peer review is largely built on the exploitation of unpaid expert labor.
• Risks include unprofessionalism, superficial feedback, and unfulfilled commitments from volunteer reviewers.
• The advent of AI presents a potential future where human peer reviewers may be replaced by AI systems, introducing new dynamics and challenges.

Conclusions:

• The traditional model of academic peer review, while essential, is vulnerable to exploitation due to its reliance on free labor.
• The increasing prominence of AI in publishing necessitates a re-evaluation of peer review practices and the role of human experts.
• Urgent consideration is needed to address the sustainability and integrity of peer review in the face of technological advancements and ethical challenges.