ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | NOVEMBER 2026 49 PEER REVIEW: • The use of AI for substantive peer review is discouraged, and inputting an unpublished manuscript into an unsecured AI tool is a violation of the author’s content ownership. • An AI tool could be helpful for reviewing a very small section of an article, e.g., an abstract, introduction, or reference. It can also help reviewers assess a work’s novelty by identifying related papers • Some editors and reviewers may refer to a checklist of frequently used phrases in AI-generated work to identify if any of those appear in a submitted article. • Reviewers should develop a collaborative relationship with authors instead of appearing accusatory when any possible misuse of AI is being addressed. FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS: • Springer Nature recently updated its AI policy, which ASM International journals have adopted. But what is missing from the policy is enforcement. Journal publishers, such as ASM, will need to manage enforcement going forward. • In the future, AI will be able to automate some physical lab experiments that are currently conducted by humans. • Can ASM develop a secure AI tool, trained on materials science content, that reviewers could use with no risk to the author’s IP? • What happens in the future when generative AI can fully write an article? Who owns the copyright? • Academics will be watching how AI impacts their own evaluations for promotion and tenure. Evaluation committees may have to adjust their processes. AI will likely impact even the selection process for elite awards, e.g., the Nobel Prize. CONCLUSION With AI developing so quickly, one panelist stated that it seems the journal publishing world is “driving on the bridge while we’re building it.” Thus, publishers must use guardrails to protect their journals’ reputations. Cooperation with the author is key. For authors, AI can be a beneficial tool for improving their writing and analyzing large data sets. But transparency and disclosure by the author are imperative. Finally, “keeping a human in the loop” is the ongoing mantra as AI continues to evolve. To learn more about ASM Inter- national’s journal program, visit asm- international.org/materials-resources/ journals. ~AM&P The panelists gather for the event. YOUR ASM MEMBERSHIP UNLOCKS ACCESS TO TOP JOURNALS IN THE FIELD One of the many valuable benefits of ASM membership is complimentary full-text online access to four of the most respected, peer-reviewed journals in the materials science and engineering community: • Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance • Journal of Phase Equilibria and Diffusion • Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A • Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B In addition, ASM members receive online access to more than 20 highly respected Springer-owned journals as part of their membership. These publications cover a broad range of materials topics and are an excellent resource for staying current with the latest innovations and research. Looking for even more? ASM members also enjoy discounted subscription rates on other ASM-published journals— bringing even greater value to your membership. Make the most of your access—log in and start reading today. Explore Member Journals by visiting asminternational.org/ materials-resources/journals.
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