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Wiley, a global leader in authoritative content and research intelligence, has issued new guidelines designed to ensure responsible and intentional AI use across the research ecosystem. Developed in collaboration with research authors, journal editors, and peer reviewers, the guidance aims to provide clarity and consistency as AI becomes increasingly common in scholarly work.

The initiative follows findings from Wiley’s ExplanAItions study, which reported that 84% of researchers are now using AI, while 73% expressed the need for clearer publisher direction. The new framework builds on earlier advisement for book authors introduced in March 2025 and is based on insights from more than 40 interviews with researchers and editors from multiple disciplines, as well as input from experts in AI, research integrity, and copyright and permissions.

The guidance introduces several research-specific provisions. It defines disclosure standards through practical examples, illustrating when and how AI use must be reported in activities such as drafting and editing, study design, data collection, literature review, data analysis, and visuals. Disclosure is presented as a supportive measure to enable responsible use rather than a deterrent.

It establishes peer review confidentiality protections, prohibiting the uploading of unpublished manuscripts into AI tools and clarifying where AI can be applied appropriately within review and editorial workflows. The guidelines also include image integrity rules, banning AI-edited photographs in journals while distinguishing between conceptual illustrations that may use AI and evidential images that require verification. A reproducibility framework outlines when AI use must be disclosed to ensure scientific transparency and evaluative rigor.

According to Wiley, these standards have been created to reflect real-world research practices and to maintain the integrity of the scientific record. The company emphasized that the use of AI should not lead to automatic manuscript rejection; rather, evaluations should focus on research quality, integrity, and transparency. The guidelines also include practical examples, workflow integration tips, and decision-making frameworks.

The release forms part of Wiley’s broader initiative to guide the research community through AI-driven transformation. Earlier in the month, the company launched the Wiley AI Gateway, a platform that allows researchers to access peer-reviewed content within their AI workflows. The ExplanAItions study continues to benchmark researcher experiences and needs, while Wiley’s internal AI principles direct the integration of AI technologies into its products and platforms. Collectively, these efforts reflect Wiley’s strategy to collaborate with the global research community to promote responsible and transparent AI use in science.