A Third Transformation? Generative AI and Scholarly Publishing

Tracy Bergstrom; Dylan Ruediger

This report by Ithaka S+R examines the potential transformative effects of generative AI on the scholarly publishing industry, analyzing whether it could lead to a 'third transformation' in this sector. Through interviews with key industry stakeholders, the report explores two potential scenarios: an incremental change enhancing existing processes and a disruptive transformation that could significantly reshape scholarly communication. It delves into how generative AI tools are already impacting search, discovery, writing, and peer review processes, with a focus on efficiencies and challenges around maintaining the trustworthiness of the scholarly record. Strategic recommendations for stakeholders include developing shared infrastructure, creating ethical guidelines, and updating metrics to measure AI-related impacts. The report highlights the importance of balancing human oversight with AI capabilities to ensure integrity and transparency in scholarly publishing.