What is a journal? What is research? What is AI’s role in either of these things? These and other existential questions have been bothering academics and publishers alike since the advent of Generative AI tools for common use nearly four years ago. One byproduct of this has been a sudden boost to the worth of philosophers, as they exhibit both the skills to prompt … Continue reading Philosophically speaking
Book review – “The Seven Rules of Trust” by Jimmy Wales
Trust is something we all take for granted. From taking an umbrella with you on a day out because the weather forecast said it would rain, to watching a movie following a friend’s recommendation, we commit to dozens of actions each day based on trusting something we have seen, heard, or sensed in some way. … Continue reading Book review – “The Seven Rules of Trust” by Jimmy Wales
Study highlights AI-fueled increase in references to fake sources
Recent reporting from the respected Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant highlights a growing problem in scholarly publishing: the rise of AI-generated fake citations appearing in academic papers. According to the article, authored by Stan van Pelt, fabricated references — studies, articles, or journals that do not actually exist — have increased significantly alongside the widespread adoption … Continue reading Study highlights AI-fueled increase in references to fake sources
Letters from America: AI
The news from business school leaders meeting in Seattle this week was simple: AACSB + ICAM = AI. To translate, it was the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) annual get-together, known as the International Conference and Meetings (ICAM), and the focus was very much on Artificial Intelligence. And by focus, while the … Continue reading Letters from America: AI
Land of make believe
A Happy New Year to everyone, and if you can’t quite believe it is January already, then recent news on the impact of AI on scholarly communications is not going to help with that feeling of things not being quite real. Towards the end of 2025, reports started to emerge of 'imaginary journals.' We have … Continue reading Land of make believe
Is the Article *Really* Dead?
I was fortunate to attend the annual Charleston Conference last week, and in addition to the lovely weather and beautiful surroundings of South Carolina in early November, I was able to enjoy a vibrant and serious-minded event against a backdrop of unprecedented challenges. While there was an overall mood of deep concern for librarianship, there … Continue reading Is the Article *Really* Dead?
What Does ‘Beta’ Even Mean?
For those of us who have been in scholarly communications for a number of years, one of the most noticeable shifts in the industry has been the use of language and how it has morphed from being almost historical in nature to being at the cutting edge of the ‘tech bro’ vernacular. These days in … Continue reading What Does ‘Beta’ Even Mean?
Will AI + OA be OK?
If you are anything like me, you will have been experiencing serious FOMO in the last week as colleagues and acquaintances descended on Frankfurt for the annual publishing social, interrupted intermittently by the Book Fair. From what most LinkedIn posts would have you believe, a good time was had by all, but some of that … Continue reading Will AI + OA be OK?
Beer, Chips and System Failures
Whatever your political persuasion, in recent times it seems apparent that things are not quite how they should be. Things are never perfect, of course, but no matter your views, there appears to be a groundswell of opinion that things need to change. And with social media turbocharging our keyboard warrior tendencies, we also need … Continue reading Beer, Chips and System Failures
Peer Review: Weak?
Now a fixture in the scholarly communications calendar, Peer Review Week has become one of those pivots that for many people, the year revolves around. Like children going back to school after the summer break, or the inexorable slowdown ahead of Christmas, this week in mid-September serves as a reflection point on what has gone … Continue reading Peer Review: Weak?