Ethical Concerns in Academic Publishing: AI Allegations, Retraction Threats, and Prolific Authorship-Accusation of AI use in article published at the period that AI is not generally available

Abstract

Recent concerns about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in academic publishing have raised ethical questions, particularly in cases where authors have an unusually high number of publications. This article examines a case where an editorial board raised suspicions regarding the potential use of AI in publications by two authors, citing their prolific output and the nature of their contributions. The editorial board's actions—issuing an expression of concern, demanding explanations for AI usage, and threatening retraction—highlight the ethical implications of such accusations. By analyzing the specific case of two authors with over 400 and 4,000 publications, respectively, and exploring the technological context of AI availability at the time of publication (2018–2020), the article critiques the board's approach in the absence of concrete evidence. It emphasizes the need for due process, transparency, and clear standards when investigating potential misconduct in academic publishing.