SciSpace Academy
Tutorial

AI in Peer Review: Opportunities, Best Practices and Ethics

Omkar JadhavEnglishPeer review & publishing

TL;DR

1-min read

As AI tools spread through academic publishing, reviewers face a practical question: how, if at all, should AI be used in peer review? In this tutorial, Omkar Jadhav from SciSpace's product team discusses where AI can add value when reviewing manuscripts and where caution is essential. It is intended for peer reviewers, editors and researchers who want to understand responsible AI use in the review process. Because peer review depends on trust in the reviewer's judgment, getting these boundaries right matters for authors, editors and the credibility of published research.

Key takeaways

  • AI can usefully assist with some parts of reviewing, but the scientific assessment and the final recommendation must remain the reviewer's own.
  • Policies differ between publishers and journals; many prohibit uploading confidential manuscripts into external AI tools and some ask reviewers to disclose any AI assistance, so read the reviewer guidelines first.
  • The main risks include breaching confidentiality, introducing bias, accepting inaccurate or generic critiques and reducing the reviewer's own engagement with the work.
  • Responsible practice means protecting confidentiality, being transparent about any AI involvement and verifying every point raised before it goes into a report.
  • Authors can use AI before submission to check clarity, spot gaps in argument or missing references and anticipate reviewer questions, which is different from reviewing someone else's confidential work.
  • Real-world use cases and limitations illustrate emerging good practice for keeping the process transparent and fair.
Apply it

As an author, you can use SciSpace's AI Peer Review Assistant to check your own draft before submission and the Response to Reviewers agent when replying to feedback.

How to do it

  1. Read the reviewer guidelines first

    Check your publisher's and journal's policies before using AI in peer review. Many prohibit uploading confidential manuscripts into external AI tools, and some ask reviewers to disclose AI assistance.

  2. Protect manuscript confidentiality

    Never upload a confidential manuscript to an external tool your journal does not allow. Breaching confidentiality is one of the main risks of AI-assisted review.

  3. Keep the assessment your own

    Write the scientific assessment and the final recommendation yourself, using AI only for supportive parts where policy permits.

  4. Verify every point before reporting

    Check each point against the manuscript before it enters your report, and be transparent about any AI involvement. This avoids inaccurate or generic critiques.

  5. Check your own draft as an author

    As an author, run SciSpace's AI Peer Review Assistant on your own draft before submission to check clarity, spot gaps in argument or missing references and anticipate reviewer questions.

  6. Reply with the Response to Reviewers agent

    When feedback arrives on your own paper, use the Response to Reviewers agent to help reply, then review every response yourself.

Try this on SciSpace

Frequently asked questions

Is it allowed to use AI when peer reviewing a paper?

Policies differ by publisher and journal. Many prohibit uploading confidential manuscripts into external AI tools, and some ask reviewers to disclose any AI assistance. Always read the journal's reviewer guidelines first. Even where limited use is allowed, the scientific assessment and recommendation must be the reviewer's own.

What are the risks of using AI in peer review?

Key risks include breaching manuscript confidentiality, introducing bias, accepting inaccurate or generic critiques, and reducing the reviewer's own engagement with the work. These can harm authors and undermine trust in publishing. Responsible use means protecting confidentiality, being transparent and verifying every point raised.

How can AI help researchers prepare for peer review?

Before submission, authors can use AI to check clarity, spot gaps in argument or missing references, and anticipate likely reviewer questions. This is different from reviewing someone else's confidential work. Authors should still verify suggestions and make sure the final manuscript reflects their own analysis.

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