LLM tool use in manuscript review: Toward guidance and transparency

The peer review system is straining under rising submissions, growing manuscript complexity, and a shrinking reviewer pool. Meanwhile an increasing number of researchers now use tools based on large language models (LLMs) when performing peer review, often without disclosure and against journal policies. This erodes trust in peer review and risks deteriorating the quality and integrity of research publications. We argue for professionalization and transparency rather than prohibition, and propose guidelines built on three aspects: model selection and data protection, human guidance and accountability, and publication integrity. These principles offer a sustainable path forward, leaving scientific judgment where it belongs; that is, with human experts.