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Redefining Editorial Workflows: What 2025 Taught Us About AI
The year 2025 has marked a major shift in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into academic publishing. What began as a slow adoption of digital tools has evolved into a full transformation of editorial processes worldwide. AI now assists with manuscript screening, peer review, language improvement, and research integrity checks. However, as these technologies expand, concerns about transparency, equity, and responsible implementation, especially in the Global South, have become increasingly important.
AI as a Catalyst for Editorial Efficiency
A defining lesson from 2025 is that AI significantly accelerates editorial workflows. Tools equipped with automated reference checking, formatting detection, and ethical screening now streamline initial manuscript handling. Many high-volume journals report nearly 40% faster triage due to AI-supported workflows.
Language-enhancement platforms have also improved submission quality, especially for authors across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Guidance on AI-supported efficiency can be explored through the COPE Discussion Document on AI in Publication Ethics.
The Changing Nature of Peer Review
Peer review has undergone notable modernization. AI now provides structured content summaries, evaluates statistical soundness, and highlights methodological gaps, features highly valued by early-career reviewers.
To prevent over-dependence on automated suggestions, many publishers implemented responsible-use policies such as the STM Best Practices for AI in Scholarly Publishing, which emphasize maintaining human judgment at the center of all evaluation.
Integrity Challenges and Emerging Solutions
The rise of generative AI has introduced new integrity concerns, including fabricated data, AI-generated manuscripts, and machine-written peer reviews. Journals have responded by integrating:
- Stylometric tools for detecting unusual writing patterns
- Automated image-forensics systems
- Multi-layered AI-based screening for manipulated figures and text
Advanced tools used across major publishers include iThenticate for text analysis, Proofig for image integrity, and the STM Integrity Hub for multi-platform detection workflows.
Equity and Visibility in the Global South
Although AI offers immense benefits, access remains uneven. Many journals in the Global South face barriers such as high subscription costs, limited technical infrastructure, and a lack of training.In 2025, regional organizations played a crucial role in addressing these gaps. The Asian Council of Science Editors (ACSE) provided training, promoted open-source tools, and supported ethical AI adoption. A widely adopted free editorial management system in resource-limited regions remains Open Journal Systems (OJS).
Human Judgment: The Core of Scholarly Publishing
Despite rapid advancements, AI cannot replace ethical reasoning, contextual decision-making, or scientific interpretation. The most successful 2025 editorial systems were not those that automated the most, but those that automated intelligently, strengthening human oversight rather than substituting it.
Foundational guidance is outlined in the ICMJE Recommendations, which reaffirm the irreplaceable role of editors and reviewers.
Practical Reflections: AI as a Collaborative Professional Partner
My professional experience throughout 2025 underscored AI’s value as a supportive collaborator. AI tools enhanced clarity, coherence, and structure in manuscript drafting and literature synthesis.
They also proved particularly useful in preparing competitive proposals for programs such as PRIMA and national funding schemes like Egypt’s STDF, assisting in narrative alignment and formatting, while all scientific ideas and final decisions remained fully human-directed.
Editorial Outlook
The developments of 2025 demonstrate that AI’s growing presence in scholarly publishing is both transformative and demanding. Its ability to accelerate workflows, support peer review, and strengthen integrity frameworks is undeniable. Yet these gains can only be sustained when accompanied by transparent governance, equitable access, and strong human oversight.
Going forward, the central task for publishers will be to integrate AI strategically rather than excessively, ensuring that technology enhances, not replaces the ethical standards, scientific rigor, and human judgment that define credible scholarship.
Keywords
Artificial Intelligence Editorial Workflows Peer Review Research Integrity Global South Scholarly Publishing Responsible AI Use
Dr. Samia Saad El-Sayed El-Maghraby is Emeritus Professor at the Sugar Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt. She earned her Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences from Zagazig University. Her expertise covers Agricultural Sciences, Plant Physiology, Agronomy, Agricultural Biotechnology, and Weed Management. Dr. El-Maghraby has contributed valuable scholarly work and continues to support advancements in sugar crop research and sustainable agriculture.
View All Posts by Samia Saad El-Sayed El-MaghrabyDisclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of their affiliated institutions, the Asian Council of Science Editors (ACSE), or the Editor’s Café editorial team.
