Guangzhou — June 2025 — Professor Chengwu Zeng, Vice-Editor-in-Chief of Cell Investigation and a faculty member at the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, has recently published a thought-provoking editorial in the latest issue of the journal (Volume 1, Issue 2). The editorial, titled "Clarifying the Role of AI in Academic Writing," delves into the growing importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in academic writing, addressing both their advantages and the ethical challenges they present.
In the editorial, Professor Zeng provides a detailed analysis of how AI tools—especially AI language models like ChatGPT and DeepSeek—are transforming various aspects of academic writing. AI tools enhance writing efficiency by leveraging large-scale language models (LLMs), helping researchers with tasks such as literature summarization, language refinement, and peer review. Professor Zeng points out that AI’s capabilities in grammar correction, enhancing logical flow, and information extraction, particularly for non-native English speakers, significantly improve the quality of manuscripts.
However, the editorial also highlights the potential risks of using AI in academic writing, especially concerning academic integrity. Professor Zeng warns that some researchers may submit AI-generated content as original work, potentially compromising the quality of the scientific record. He discusses the issue of AI "hallucinations," where models generate seemingly plausible but actually incorrect information, as well as potential factual errors, logical inconsistencies, and completely fabricated citations in AI-generated content. Professor Zeng further emphasizes that the increasing use of AI in manuscript preparation may not always be fully disclosed, thus affecting transparency and the peer review process.
Additionally, the editorial calls for a balanced approach from the academic community. Professor Zeng stresses that while AI tools can assist in writing tasks, they cannot replace critical thinking, scientific reasoning, or the intellectual contributions of researchers. AI should be viewed as a support tool rather than a creative contributor.
The editorial also advocates for clear policies and ethical frameworks to regulate the use of AI in academic writing. Professor Zeng suggests that authors should clearly disclose their use of AI tools, including the role and extent of their use, to maintain academic rigor and ensure fair peer review. Moreover, all AI-generated content must be independently verified to ensure the accuracy and integrity of scientific work.
This editorial is part of a broader discussion in the academic community about the integration of AI in research. Professor Zeng’s insights offer valuable perspectives on how to effectively utilize AI while maintaining academic values.
For more details, please read the full article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S3050538025000109