AI News Monitor

Wiley’s latest report highlights AI’s growing role in scholarly research and the need for clear guidelines.

AI continues to reshape academic research, with new insights emerging from a Wiley report titled ExplanAItions, which surveyed nearly 5,000 researchers worldwide. The study explores how AI is currently used in research, its potential expansion, and the role publishers can play in guiding responsible AI adoption.

Key findings indicate that while AI use is currently concentrated in a few core tasks, researchers expect rapid growth in its applications. A majority believe AI already outperforms humans in many areas. However, adoption varies by region—China (59%) and Germany (57%) lead in AI usage, compared to 44% globally. Barriers such as a lack of training and clear guidelines remain consistent worldwide.

Field-specific trends also emerged, with computer science and medicine showing the highest enthusiasm for AI, while life sciences researchers remain more cautious. Notably, 70% of researchers believe publishers should provide guidelines to ensure responsible AI use in academic writing and research.

Wiley’s executive vice president, Jay Flynn, acknowledged these concerns, stating, “We’ve heard researchers loud and clear. We’re committed to supporting authors as they navigate this transformation and will offer guidance on how to use generative AI tools with greater confidence.”

In response, Wiley is actively developing AI guidelines to help researchers integrate AI responsibly into their work.