Scientific Peer Review in an Era of Artificial Intelligence

The globalisation of scientific collaboration has resulted in continual growth in submission volume. Consequently, traditional manual review methods are being challenged to keep pace, prompting the exploration of innovative solutions to streamline and enhance the process. The revolution of wide-ranging artificial intelligence (AI) tools capable of performing tasks requiring human intelligence has resulted in transformative change in various fields, and scientific publishing is no exception. The integration of AI into the peer review process in scientific publishing involves deploying various methods and techniques, including machine learning algorithms, natural language processing, predictive analytics, sentiment analysis, real-time collaboration tools, data visualisation and analysis tools, personalised recommendation systems, and accessibility and translation services, revolutionising the traditional peer review model. The introduction of AI into the peer review process has brought forth both opportunities and profound challenges. This chapter is devoted to the intricate relationship between AI and peer review in scientific publishing. It outlines the challenges and opportunities, examines the ethical considerations, and delves into this rapidly evolving field.