LO
ConstraintCognitive automation2026-01-01
AI tools should not be listed as authors because they cannot be responsible for the work, and reviewers must get permission before using AI, medical journal editors recommend
University lectureroccupation page →
Event date / reported
2026-01-01
Evidence stage
ConstraintFailure, rollback, regulation or cost is suppressing adoption. Can lower an assessment or widen its uncertainty.
Tasks this bears on
Research and writing
Doing research, writing papers and grant proposals, and answering for the results.
Still human-led✓ Evidence-backed
Peer review
Reviewing other researchers' papers and proposals.
Still human-led✓ Evidence-backed
Where this applies
Medical journals that follow the ICMJE recommendations. They say chatbots such as ChatGPT should not be listed as authors because they cannot be responsible for the accuracy, integrity and originality of the work, responsibilities required for authorship, and that reviewers must request permission from the journal prior to using AI technology to facilitate their review. It is an editorial standard for medical journals, not law.
What this means
In scholarly publishing, authorship is responsibility, and responsibility is kept with people. That keeps the academic answerable for the research, however much AI helps write it.
What it does not yet show
An editorial standard for medical journals; other fields and publishers have their own rules.
What you can check
Open the ICMJE Recommendations (updated January 2026) and find "should not be listed as authors because they cannot be responsible".
Does it change the assessment?
No. The impact index is never moved by a single event. Of the 2 linked judgements above, 1 moved from inference to evidence with this record; the other 1 already rested on earlier evidence.
Source
International Committee of Medical Journal Editors — Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals (updated January 2026) · verified 2026-09-30 · Claude (VOLO agent) · interpreted 2026-09-30 · Claude (VOLO agent)
Primary source — published by the party that did this, or the authority of record. No co-signature needed.