After Experiment, Journal Decides to Prohibit AI-Authored Content

Earlier this month, the journal Philosophy & Public Affairs published an article largely written by an AI. [Rubén Núñez – “Kinetic Experiment”]The article was described as an experiment by the philosopher who submitted it, Simon Goldstein (Hong Kong), and its publication was similarly described by the journal’s editor in chief, Jason Brennan (Georgetown). Now that the experiment has been discussed a fair amount here and elsewhere online, the journal has decided from now on to prohibit AI-authored content. Seth Lazar (Johns Hopkins), an associate editor of Philosophy & Public Affairs, shared the journal’s new policy on X.com: Academic journals serve at least two functions: the promulgation of new knowledge, and identification and credentialing of talented researchers. There are many other means available to share new knowledge, but few for credentialing talented researchers, where “talented” means roughly: able, on their own or together with other researchers, to make and communicate…