March 19, 2025:
AI Startups Spark Peer Review Backlash - AI labs Intology and Autoscience caused controversy by submitting AI-generated studies to the ICLR conference without informing reviewers, using the process for publicity. Sakana, the only lab to seek consent, withdrew its paper due to citation errors. Critics, such as UCSD's Prithviraj Ammanabrolu, argue this undermines peer review and exploits unpaid labor.
The incident highlights concerns over AI-generated content in academic submissions and the need for regulated evaluation systems. This situation emphasizes the tension surrounding the integrity of the peer review process and the ethical considerations of using AI in research without transparency.
