[IRTalk] Hidden AI Whispers: How Researchers Are Gaming Peer Review with Secret Prompts

[Ina Smith]

A recent investigation has revealed that some researchers are embedding hidden prompts in academic papers-written in near-invisible text or extremely small font - to manipulate AI tools used in peer review, instructing them to deliver favorable evaluations. These prompts have been found in at least 17 preprints on arXiv from 14 universities across eight countries. As AI increasingly assists tasks like manuscript screening and peer review, this tactic exposes vulnerabilities in scholarly publishing and prompts calls for stronger safeguards and prompt-scanning tools by journals.

https://www.webpronews.com/hidden-ai-whispers-how-researchers-are-gaming-peer-review-with-secret-prompts/


Ina Smith (her/she)

SciELO SA Planning Manager | Scholarly Publishing Programme
Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)

[cid:92c68d43-9289-40ec-9c6d-feb76b1f0cf2]

Senior Ambassador for Africa
Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

[https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4xbjCrv5gVyyl84VvHNx8ocgrBYSBjggNNyva45_YzaCvj6fTvWD7f3cVI7JDH06vkvS21npNmjTLlc]
DOAJ & Diamond: 22 years<https://blog.doaj.org/2025/04/15/doaj-and-diamond-our-focus-for-2025/>
ASSAf Switchboard: +27 12 349 6600
Whatsapp: +27(0)82 818 0117
Email: ina at assaf.org.za<mailto:ina at assaf.org.za> and ina at doaj.org<mailto:ina at doaj.org>

25A De Havilland Crescent, Persequor Park
Meiring Naudé Road, Lynnwood 0020, Pretoria, South Africa
PO Box 72135, Lynnwood Ridge 0040, Pretoria, South Africa


ASSAf Website: https://www.assaf.org.za/
DOAJ Website: https://doaj.org/

 [X]

ASSAf Disclaimer: The views and opinions included in this email belong to their author and do not necessarily mirror the views and opinions of the organisation. Our employees are obliged not to make any defamatory statements, infringe, or authorize infringement of any legal right. Therefore, the organisation will not accept any liability for such statements included in emails. In case of any damages or other liabilities arising, employees are fully responsible for the content of their emails. The processing of personal information by ASSAf is done lawfully and not excessive to the purpose of processing in compliance with the POPI Act, any codes of conduct issued by the Information Regulator in terms of the POPI Act and / or relevant legislation providing appropriate security safeguards for the processing of personal information of others.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.lib.sun.ac.za/pipermail/irtalk/attachments/20251117/de183a85/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Outlook-asbaatoc.png
Type: image/png
Size: 127466 bytes
Desc: Outlook-asbaatoc.png
URL: <http://lists.lib.sun.ac.za/pipermail/irtalk/attachments/20251117/de183a85/attachment-0001.png>