Paper mill-backed writers: Here, there and everywhere?

The article discusses the challenges and concerns surrounding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and paper mill publishing in academic research. While AI tools can be helpful in certain aspects of the research process, they should not be used to generate final versions of manuscripts or be listed as co-authors. Paper mill publishing, which involves the production and sale of fraudulent manuscripts, has become a major problem, with approximately 2% of scientific papers published in 2022 resembling paper mill productions. The British Journal of Dermatology (BJD) has implemented measures to address these issues, including a clear policy on the use of AI and the use of plagiarism detection software. The BJD is also a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), which provides guidance and resources on ethical issues in academic publishing. COPE is working with other organizations to combat paper mills and has launched tools and techniques for detecting AI-generated papers. The BJD has a rigorous peer review process and has not detected any evidence of AI-generated or paper mill-produced items in its publications. [Extracted from the article]