Assignment 04 — The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Scientific Publications

The use of AI in writing scientific papers. Emang boleh?

Let’s talk about AI first.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a field of computer science that allows machines to imitate various skills to perform tasks that require human intelligence, such as those involving psychological skills, prediction, and planning. It includes the ability to learn from experience (machine learning), adapt to new environments, interpret data, recognize patterns, and make decisions based on the information provided (Russell & Norvig, 2022, Sheikh et al. 2023)

Several types of AI:

1. Narrow AI (Weak AI): a system designed to perform a specific task or limited set of functions — examples: the personal assistant Siri on Apple devices and Bixby on Samsung.
2. General AI (strong AI): a system that can understand and complete tasks that humans can do. This system is a theoretical concept of intelligent agents.
3. Superintelligent AI: a system that has an intellectual scope exceeding human intelligence.
4. Reactive machines: systems that are based on predetermined algorithms and do not have memory-based functions.
5. Limited memory AI: a system that can determine a decision based on previously stored data. System capabilities can be increased by adding stored historical data.

You can find the use of artificial intelligence in face recognition systems. The system detects and analyzes face features by identifying them based on facial images and then matching them with a database stored in the machine. One of the facial recognition functions can be used to authenticate (verify) identity when logging in to a device or application on a smartphone so that users do not need to use a one-time password (OTP) or two-step verification (Amazon, 2024).

You can find other AI systems in the:

• Streaming services (Netflix, Spotify): AI analyzes your watch history or listening habits to suggest similar content you might enjoy.
• Online shopping (Amazon): Product recommendations are based on your purchase history, browsing behavior, and even what other customers with similar profiles bought.
• Social media (Facebook, Instagram): The content you see in your feed is curated by AI algorithms that consider your past interactions, likes, and the activity of your social circle.

The use of AI in scientific publications

The use of AI can be used in writing scientific papers. For researchers, AI technology is beneficial in writing journal articles, from creating narratives to editing and proofreading. There are levels of assistance from humans and AI in scientific writing, ranging from spell-checking to substantial editing, which may require disclosure in publications (Ciaccio, 2024).
Assistance that can be obtained using AI in writing journal articles :

1. Spell Checking: AI can be used to check spelling in manuscripts.
2. Grammar Checking: AI can help in checking grammar and sentence structure.
3. Editing: AI can edit manuscripts, including correcting grammatical errors, writing style and document formatting.
4. Proofreading: AI can perform proofreading to find and correct errors in the manuscript.
5. Content Editing: AI can help in editing manuscript content, such as remodeling specific paragraphs or sections, adding or deleting content, and improving the clarity and coherence of the writing.
6. Developmental Editing: AI can be involved in developing ideas or concepts for the manuscript.
7. Automated Review: AI can provide automatic reviews of submitted manuscripts, providing fast feedback and assisting in the review process.

Ethics and rules in using AI in publications

The increasing number of authors using AI to write scientific papers has given rise to unethical practices such as plagiarism. Before the AI era, unethical practices in writing usually involved using other people’s writing services. Currently, AI is used to transcribe text without attribution. Hosseini et al. (2023) believe that it is essential to consider the ethics of using AI in journal writing. The use of artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT and large language models (LLMs), can raise various ethical issues regarding responsible writing responsibilities. Although some journals have banned the use of LLMs because of the ethical issues they raise, such bans are not a rational response to the moral dilemmas at hand. This prohibition remains violated and can actually encourage the use of LLMs without disclosure. AI can be helpful in writing, reviewing, and editing text, as well as promoting equality in science.

Different policy options concerning the use of AI in scientific publications (Hosseini et al., 2023).

AI-based systems and platforms for publications

Currently, many AIs can help in writing scientific articles. This AI can be accessed online and free. There are also pro versions, such as unlimited narrative generation, uploading via PDF or photos, and so on. There are several things you need to pay attention to when choosing AI to help in writing (Parker, 2024):

1. Quality and Coherence Text: Choose AI that provides you with high-quality, coherent text that meets academic writing standards. Find a model that is good at following context and is transparent.
2. Specialized Prompts: Choose AI that is able to handle special requests developed to cover academic material, especially in writing scientific articles.
3. Research Capabilities: Think of AI bots that can assist in initial research tasks that serve to increase the credibility of academic content, such as having capabilities in searching for characteristics that enable the generation of relevant data, references and citations,
4. Plagiarism detection: choose AI equipped with plagiarism detection to support academic authenticity.
5. Formatting Assistance: Choose an AI tool that will help you with referencing, formatting, and other essay writing conventions. This feature automates the development of written work during the finalization stage.
6. User Interface and Experience: choose an AI that has a display that makes it easy for users to use the AI in order to save time and energy during the writing process.
7. Compatibility with Academic Databases: look for AI that can work seamlessly with academic databases or reference management systems. It encourages the research and citation process, making it more efficient and more accessible for researchers to use.
8. Community and Support: choose an AI with a large user community and credible customer service. It provides an opportunity to address any issues or questions, improving the interaction quickly.

Quick Summary of Top 5 AI Tools for Academic Writing (Parker, 2024)

1. Studybay AI ▶️ Custom Writing Assistance ⭐️ 5/5
2. MyStylus ▶️ Grammar and Style Improvement ⭐️ 4.9/5
3. LumenWriter ▶️ Content Generation and Research Aid ⭐️ 4.9/5
4. Jenni AI ▶️ Writing, Editing, and Correction ⭐️ 4.8/5
5. ChatGPT ▶️ Advanced Language Generation ⭐️ 4.8/5

Latest hot issues about AI-assisted publications that is circulating in social media currently

Reddit (academia section) is being enlivened by the release of a scientific article using AI published by a Q1 publisher (you can find it here). The first paragraph in the introduction makes it very clear that the author uses AI to assist in writing the article, and it gives rise to negative comments. Before publication, the article went through a peer-review stage, and multiple were checked. So, it should not have happened. It raises the question of whether the publisher is truly credible or it has now become a predatory journal.

Oops..

How to use AI in creating the introduction part of a scientific paper

Using AI to write an introduction can help the writer develop the research topic to be taken. By inputting keywords of research topics and instructions at the start of the conversation, AI will answer questions according to relevant topics. Looking at my previous story (check here), the structure of writing an introduction has four components: general background, specific background, knowledge gap, and summary of the research. AI will help create a narrative according to the flow of these components. The results produced by AI are then paraphrased to be written in articles according to the provisions of the publisher we are going to. Suppose the writer already has an introductory narrative. In that case, AI can help with clarity, coherence, and grammatical accuracy by transcribing the text that has been created and inputting it into the AI system. Voila! The introductory part is complete.

Be wise in using technology.

Don’t forget to delete the chatGPT command! :)

References:

• Amazon. What is Facial Recognition? url https://aws.amazon.com/what-is/facial-recognition/
• Ciaccio, E.J. 2023. Use of artificial intelligence in scientific paper writing. Informatics in Medicine Unlocked, 41, (April), 0–2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imu.2023.101253
• Hosseini, M., Resnik, D.B. and Holmes, K. 2023. The ethics of disclosing the use of artificial intelligence tools in writing scholarly manuscripts. Research Ethics, 19, (4), 449–65. https://doi.org/10.1177/17470161231180449
• Parker, Maggie. 2024. Top 5 Best AI Tools for Academic Writing: Thoroughly Reviewed. Linkedin url https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/best-ai-tools-academic-writing-maggie-parker-55yje/
• Stuart J. Russell, P.N. 2022. Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach. Pearson Education Limited.
• Sheikh, H., Prins, C. and Schrijvers, E. 2023. Mission AI: The new system technology. Springer.