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From honorary authorship to AI-assisted writing: two challenges to genuine scientific contribution
Panos Macheras1, Panos E Vardas2
1PharmaInformatics Unit, ATHENA Research Center, Aigialias & Chalepa, Marousi, 15125, Greece; Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis of Zographou, Zographou, Athens, 15771, Greece.
Summary
Scientific authorship integrity is threatened by honorary authorship and the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Both practices obscure true contributions, risking transparency and trust in scholarly publishing.
Area of Science:
- Scientific publishing ethics
- Research integrity
- Scholarly communication
Background:
- Honorary authorship, where individuals are listed without significant contribution, has been a persistent issue since at least 1983.
- The growth of collaborative research has exacerbated the problem of "cosmetic" authorship.
- Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) present new challenges to authorship integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine honorary authorship and AI-assisted writing as related issues.
- To highlight the continuity between historical and emerging authorship challenges.
- To emphasize the need for transparency and accountability in scientific publishing.
Main Methods:
- This commentary analyzes historical and contemporary practices in scientific authorship.
- It draws parallels between honorary authorship and the use of AI in manuscript preparation.
- The analysis focuses on the impact on scholarly credit and transparency.
Main Results:
- Both honorary authorship and unreported AI use dilute and misrepresent authentic scientific contributions.
- These practices pose a significant threat to the integrity of scientific credit.
- Failure to address these issues can erode trust in published research.
Conclusions:
- Recognizing AI-assisted writing as a modern form of authorship misrepresentation is crucial.
- Preserving transparency, accountability, and trust requires addressing both historical and new challenges to authorship.
- Clear guidelines and disclosure are essential for maintaining the integrity of scientific publishing.
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