New report explores the impact of GenAI on scholarly publishing

10 December 2024

In a landmark analysis of the future of scholarly communication, Ithaka S+R has released a new report, A Third Transformation? Generative AI and Scholarly Publishing, investigating the profound effects of generative AI (GenAI) on academic publishing. The report, supported by STM Solutions and leading publishers such as the American Chemical Society, IEEE, Elsevier, Springer Nature, Taylor & Francis Group, and Wiley, highlights the rapid evolution of GenAI and its potential to reshape research workflows, operational strategies, and communication processes.

This report builds on earlier insights into the second digital transformation of scholarly publishing and positions GenAI as a potentially transformative force in a third wave of innovation.

The release of the report follows STM’s recent Frankfurt conference, where AI was a central theme across all sessions, underscoring the urgency of understanding AI’s impact. With GenAI tools already integrated into many facets of research — from writing assistance to data analysis — the report provides a critical foundation for publishers, researchers, and institutions to navigate both the opportunities and challenges posed by AI-driven technologies.

The report addresses how generative AI is influencing scholarly publishing operations and strategic decisions. By analyzing risks such as content integrity and opportunities like workflow efficiency, the findings are designed to guide industry stakeholders in adopting AI responsibly and effectively.

As the scholarly publishing community confronts this next phase of transformation, collaboration and conversation will be key to harnessing the potential of generative AI while maintaining the integrity of academic research.