The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

Major publishers are banning ChatGPT from being listed as an academic author. What’s the big deal?

  • Written by Danny Kingsley, Visiting Fellow, Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University
Major publishers are banning ChatGPT from being listed as an academic author. What’s the big deal?

Unless you’ve spent your summer on a digital detox, you’ve probably heard of ChatGPT[1]: the latest AI chatbot taking the world by storm.

Recent discussion about ChatGPT has focused on the risk of students using it to cheat[2], and whether it should be allowed in schools[3] and universities[4].

But there’s yet another question ChatGPT has thrown up: that is, whether ChatGPT could be considered an academic author.

It might seem far-fetched, but several papers published recently have listed ChatGPT as an author[5], including[6] an editorial published in the journal Nurse Education in Practice.

Last year, some researchers also tried[7] to list GPT-3 as an author on a paper it wrote about itself – but they struggled with listing the “author’s” telephone number and email, and had to ask GPT-3 if it had conflicts of interest.

The issue of AI authorship is now clearly on the minds of commercial academic publishers. Last week, both the Science[8] and Nature[9] journals declared their positions on the use of ChatGPT to generate articles.

Science is updating its license and editorial policies[10] to “specify that text generated by ChatGPT (or any other AI tools) cannot be used in the work, nor can figures, images, or graphics be the products of such tools”.

Similarly, Nature has formulated the following principles[11]:

  1. “No LLM (large language model) tool will be accepted as a credited author on a research paper. That is because any attribution of authorship carries with it accountability for the work, and AI tools cannot take such responsibility”

  2. “Researchers using LLM tools should document this use in the methods or acknowledgements sections. If a paper does not include these sections, the introduction or another appropriate section can be used to document the use of the LLM.”

These are drastic steps which highlight a fast-moving issue. But why does it matter whether or not ChatGPT can author an academic paper?

Read more: AI and the future of work: 5 experts on what ChatGPT, DALL-E and other AI tools mean for artists and knowledge workers[12]

Authorship: the currency of the academic realm

To understand this, it’s important to first understand that authorship in academia isn’t the same as authorship of, say, a newspaper article.

That’s because researchers are not paid to publish papers. They’re rewarded through successful grant applications, or through promotion, for the number of times they’re listed as an author on an academic paper (and especially if the paper is published in a prestigious journal).

In the academic world, authorship doesn’t necessarily mean having actually “written” the paper – but it should, ideally, reflect genuine involvement in the research process.

It also conveys responsibility for the contents of the paper. The 2018 Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research includes a guide on authorship[13] which states:

All listed authors are collectively accountable for the whole research output. An individual author is directly responsible for the accuracy and integrity of their contribution to the output.

This raises the question: can an AI tool be held “responsible” for the content it produces? As an extreme example, if ChatGPT’s “contribution” to a paper included an error that led to people dying, who would be held accountable?

There’s also author order to consider. In most areas of research, the first-listed author is considered the lead author. Other disciplines have their own acknowledgement systems[14], which can include alphabetical listing[15].

But ChatGPT doesn’t derive any career benefit from authorship, so where would that contribution sit within the relevant author order?

Copyright issues

Then there is the issue of copyright. Commercial academic publishing is a hugely profitable business[16] that relies on authors signing over copyright to the publisher.

This is a commercial arrangement. The author retains their moral right to be listed as an author and to take responsibility for their work, while the publisher charges for access to it.

The question of whether an AI program can “own” copyright is being debated. Copyright differs across the world, but traditionally has required a human to generate the work[17].

There are echoes here of a US case[18] in which it was debated whether a monkey who took a “selfie” could own copyright of the image. The decision was it could not.

Brave new world

There’s clearly a great deal of work that will need to happen to understand how AI tools will exist in our lives in the future.

ChatGPT isn’t going anywhere. Even if it’s banned from being acknowledged as an academic author, there’s nothing to stop researchers using it in their research process. The academic community will need guidelines on how to manage this.

There are interesting parallels here with the open access movement[19]. Many discussions about ChatGPT in educational settings point to a need to move away from the traditional essay as assessment, and instead concentrate on marking students for “showing their work”.

We could see something similar in academia, where each aspect of the research is made openly available, with acknowledgement of the originator, including ChatGPT. Not only would this increase transparency, it would also reduce the over-reliance on authorship as a primary mechanism for rewarding researchers.

Read more: The dawn of AI has come, and its implications for education couldn't be more significant[20]

Where authorship is failing

Because of the value of having one’s name on a paper, there has long been a concept of “gift” or “honorary” authorship[21].

This is where a person’s name is added to the author list even if they didn’t contribute to the paper. They may have been the person who obtained the research grant, or may have simply been added because they have a high profile and could increase the chances of the paper being published.

Two recent studies, one in Europe[22] and one in Australia[23], reveal the level of pressure PhD and early-career researchers are under to provide gift authorship. This supervisory pressure reflects what’s happening at a larger scale.

There have also been alarming revelations about payment being exchanged for authorship[24], with prices depending on where the work will be published and the research area. Investigations into this are leading to a spate of retractions.

There are clearly significant issues around academic authorship worldwide. Perhaps the arrival of ChatGPT is a wake-up call; maybe it will be enough for the academic community to take a closer look at how things could be better.

References

  1. ^ ChatGPT (openai.com)
  2. ^ it to cheat (www.abc.net.au)
  3. ^ schools (www.theguardian.com)
  4. ^ universities (www.france24.com)
  5. ^ as an author (www.nature.com)
  6. ^ including (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  7. ^ researchers also tried (www.scientificamerican.com)
  8. ^ Science (www.science.org)
  9. ^ Nature (www.nature.com)
  10. ^ license and editorial policies (www.science.org)
  11. ^ principles (www.nature.com)
  12. ^ AI and the future of work: 5 experts on what ChatGPT, DALL-E and other AI tools mean for artists and knowledge workers (theconversation.com)
  13. ^ a guide on authorship (www.nhmrc.gov.au)
  14. ^ acknowledgement systems (www.science.org)
  15. ^ alphabetical listing (academic.oup.com)
  16. ^ hugely profitable business (www.theguardian.com)
  17. ^ generate the work (www.corrs.com.au)
  18. ^ US case (www.wipo.int)
  19. ^ open access movement (theconversation.com)
  20. ^ The dawn of AI has come, and its implications for education couldn't be more significant (theconversation.com)
  21. ^ “gift” or “honorary” authorship (www.science.org)
  22. ^ one in Europe (journals.plos.org)
  23. ^ in Australia (www.biorxiv.org)
  24. ^ exchanged for authorship (www.nature.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/major-publishers-are-banning-chatgpt-from-being-listed-as-an-academic-author-whats-the-big-deal-198765

Times Magazine

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Times Features

Tricia Paoluccio designer to the stars

The Case for Nuturing Creativity in the Classroom, and in our Lives I am an actress and an artist who has had the privilege of sharing my work across many countries, touring my ...

Duke of Dural to Get Rooftop Bar as New Owners Invest in Venue Upgrade

The Duke of Dural, in Sydney’s north-west, is set for a major uplift under new ownership, following its acquisition by hospitality group Good Beer Company this week. Led by resp...

Prefab’s Second Life: Why Australia’s Backyard Boom Needs a Circular Makeover

The humble granny flat is being reimagined not just as a fix for housing shortages, but as a cornerstone of circular, factory-built architecture. But are our systems ready to s...

Melbourne’s Burglary Boom: Break-Ins Surge Nearly 25%

Victorian homeowners are being warned to act now, as rising break-ins and falling arrest rates paint a worrying picture for suburban safety. Melbourne residents are facing an ...

Exploring the Curriculum at a Modern Junior School in Melbourne

Key Highlights The curriculum at junior schools emphasises whole-person development, catering to children’s physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. It ensures early year...

Distressed by all the bad news? Here’s how to stay informed but still look after yourself

If you’re feeling like the news is particularly bad at the moment, you’re not alone. But many of us can’t look away – and don’t want to. Engaging with news can help us make ...