From manuscript preparation to peer review and editorial decision-making, AI is rapidly transforming every stage of scientific publishing. That evolution ran like a thread through every discussion at this year's Editors' Forum, traditionally organized by the Editors-in-Chiefs of four flagship journals in the field.
The event, an exclusive meeting by invitation, where editors representing many of the world's leading radiology and imaging journals assembled in Vienna to discuss both the opportunities and the growing responsibilities that AI brings to biomedical publishing.
If previous meetings focused on whether generative AI had a place in scholarly publishing, this year's discussions reflected a different reality: AI is already part of the editorial ecosystem. The challenge is no longer whether to use it, but how to integrate it responsibly while safeguarding research integrity, transparency, confidentiality, and trust.
Collaborative and forward-looking
Among the recurring themes was the growing role of AI across the publishing workflow. Presentations highlighted emerging tools designed to support manuscript screening, flag potential paper-mill activity, assess reporting guideline compliance, verify references, and assist editors during peer review. Across publishers, one message remained remarkably consistent: AI should augment and not replace human editorial judgment.
Another recurring discussion centered on confidentiality during peer review. As secure, publisher-managed AI systems begin to emerge, participants explored how future policies might distinguish these protected environments from publicly accessible AI platforms while preserving the trust that underpins scholarly publishing.
While many questions remain unanswered, the discussions were notably collaborative and forward-looking. Rather than resisting technological change, participants explored how editorial policies can evolve alongside it. As AI becomes increasingly embedded throughout scientific publishing, maintaining human oversight, accountability, and scientific integrity will remain central to the editorial process.
