A Critical Analysis of the Influence of Generative Artificial Intelligence and the Dominance of Impact Factor and Citation Metrics on Content Creation and the Evaluation of Journals and Researchers

Digitalization has fundamentally transformed ways of life, work, communication, and organization, leading to significantly reduced publishing costs and a remarkable increase in the number of journals and articles in the field of science. These transformations have also been accompanied by the emergence of quantitative metrics such as Journal Impact Factor (JIF) and citations in Google Scholar, which have disrupted traditional assessments of scientific output. Academic evaluation systems, underpinned by the notion of “publish or perish,” have driven researchers to produce more articles and encouraged problematic practices such as fake citations and outsourced article production. Generative artificial intelligence, by automating research tasks, exacerbates these trends and poses serious threats to the academic community. This article examines the challenges and changes brought about by digitalization and algorithmic management in scientific publishing. It discusses the negative impacts of dependence on these technologies on skills and academic community. Given these challenges, it is essential to maintain deep intellectual engagement and develop research skills. The article also offers recommendations for strengthening social interactions and establishing scientific standards in the face of pressures from profit-driven publishing.