Academic journals should integrate AI tools into peer review rather than prohibit them

The scholarly publishing sector faces mounting pressure as manuscript volumes grow and research becomes more intricate, making timely reviews harder to secure. Although AI technologies can aid reviewers, most journals maintain blanket bans on their use. Editors cite concerns about exposing confidential drafts to public AI platforms and the need for reviewers to stay accountable. However, such prohibitions are difficult to enforce and only partially address the underlying issues.