Artificial intelligence in the preparation of scientific articles: uses, limits, and best practices

Abstract

Abstract The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools is transforming how research is planned, conducted, written, and reviewed, offering opportunities but also imposing limitations, particularly regarding scientific integrity. This editorial note addresses the uses and limitations of AI tools in the preparation of scientific articles. Key possibilities include support for writing and editing, translation, journal selection, literature review, citation and reference management, and the production of summaries and visualizations. Conversely, the limitations relate to a lack of creativity, the perpetuation of biases and inequalities, the risk of hallucinations (false information), issues of originality and intellectual property, and authorial responsibility. It advocates for the adoption of best practices in the use of AI tools in the preparation of scientific articles. Such use must be guided by transparency, human supervision, and accountability; it must be disclosed to editors at the time of article submission and, when relevant, mentioned in the article itself. Although AI tools are useful assistants in the preparation of scientific articles, they should not replace the researcher’s critical thinking and scientific knowledge.