Webinar Recap: AI in Academic Writing – Separating Fact from Fiction

The adoption of AI in academic writing is a reality, but its use is accompanied by real anxiety. What constitutes “AI assistance” and what are the chances of it being deemed “misconduct”? When does using AI tip into something journals reject? And how do you stay ethical, transparent, and safe as a student or researcher? 

Paperpal’s panel discussion, AI for Academic Writing: Separating Fact from Fiction, tackled all this (and more). Part of The AI Exchange initiative, it brought together different perspectives and insights from leading academic voices who spoke about common myths, AI detection worries, and the right way to leverage AI in academic writing.  

Our panel of academic experts included Dr Hong Zhou, Senior Director of AI Products Management at Wiley; Joris van Rossum, Program Director at STM Integrity Solutions; and Christopher Ostro, Assistant Teaching Professor and AI Strategist at CU Boulder. Whether you’re polishing your first manuscript or exploring ways AI tools for research paper can support your workflow, you’ll find value in this session. 

This recap unpacks the most important insights shared by the panel addressing common concerns around AI and plagiarism detection, ethics, and journal policies. It also offers practical tips and recommended practices helping researchers to use AI tools like Paperpal responsibly and with greater confidence in their academic writing journey. 

Why this Conversation Matters Now

The rise of AI in academic writing has transformed the research process almost overnight. For many academics, AI writing tools for students and researchers act as lifesavers: helping with grammar, structure, and even literature discovery. But this convenience walks hand in hand with a worrying uncertainty, fueled by ambiguous AI guidelines for researchers and students. Disclosure expectations vary across journals, universities, and sometimes even departments in the same institution. In this environment, researchers are left wondering: 
“Am I doing something wrong?” 
“Will this get flagged?” 
“Should I even disclose it?” 

This AI anxiety was highlighted in a Paperpal survey of over 1,400 researchers, which showed that nearly 90% feared that using AI tools could lead to accusations of plagiarism or academic misconduct. This is what made this well-timed Paperpal webinar, which set out to clarify doubts and clear common misconceptions around ethical AI use in academia, so important. 

Dispelling AI Myths: Insights from the Webinar

The expert panel unpacked some of the most persistent myths and misconceptions around AI in academic writing, offering much-needed clarity for researchers navigating this evolving space.  

1. High AI detection scores don’t always mean plagiarism 

A common fear among academics is the risk of their work being flagged for plagiarism and AI detection in universities, automatically counting as misconduct. But as panelist Christopher Ostro pointed out, most AI and plagiarism detection tools are only accurate at the extremes, i.e., when content is 100% AI or 100% human. In reality, editing sentences for clarity or running a grammar check can trigger false positives, even when the core ideas are entirely your own. 

Takeaway: Don’t rely solely on AI detection scores as the final verdict. Transparency, intent, and process matter to prove your expertise and original work. 

2. Journals do not reject manuscripts just because AI was used 

Contrary to popular belief, using AI tools for research papers does not automatically disqualify your submission. Many journals recognize that tools like Paperpal can improve grammar, flow, and readability, especially for non-native English speakers. In fact, the panel emphasized that disclosing AI in research is encouraged because it ensures transparency and builds credibility. That said, authors must use AI responsibly and not to replace your intellectual contributions. 

Takeaway: Basic language editing typically doesn’t require AI disclosure, but when used for content generation or working with data, it’s best to disclose AI assistance.  

3. Ethical AI use requires clear guidelines 

One of the top concerns raised in the Paperpal panel discussion was the lack of clear AI guidelines for researchers, with inconsistent expectations from universities and journals causing avoidable stress. Several academics were worried that AI disclosure could lead to journal rejection or lower grades, while others risked non-disclosure because of potentially negative repercussions amid policy ambiguity. The panelists noted that AI guidelines for researchers are still evolving, but they will likely to be customized by different institutions based on typical use cases across disciplines; they advised authors always recheck institutional guidelines before submitting. 

Takeaway: When in doubt, disclose. Amid evolving institutional guidelines, it’s best to keep your research notes, data, and process material handy to prove your work’s authenticity, if required.  

4. Humanizers and AI detectors: a dangerous cat-and-mouse game 

The discussion also touched on the rise of “AI humanizer” tools, platforms designed to rewrite AI-generated content to sound more human and evade detection. These tools may help skirt around AI and plagiarism detection, but at the cost of academic integrity and originality. Our panel of experts agreed: gaming the system damages trust and undermines the value of authentic research. 

Takeaway: Choose trusted AI writing assistants for researchers like Paperpal and use AI tools responsibly; do not take shortcuts that risk loss of voice and compromise research integrity.  

5 Tips for Responsible Use of AI in Academic Writing

With AI tools becoming a natural part of research workflows, it’s important to adopt habits that are not just effective but also responsible. Based on insights from the Paperpal webinar, we listed best practices to maximize the benefits of AI writing tools for students and researchers: 

1. Use AI as a writing assistant—not a ghostwriter 

AI writing assistant for researchers can help structure your ideas, fix grammar, and improve readability. But they should never replace your critical thinking or original research. Think of AI as a support system, not a substitute. 

2. Be transparent about how you use AI 

Knowing how to disclose AI in research is essential. Editing for grammar? Usually safe. Generating full paragraphs or rewriting results? That level of AI assistance should be disclosed, especially when submitting to journals or presenting in academic settings. 

Read Paperpal’s blog on How to Disclose AI use in Academic Writing for clear guidelines and real examples. 

3. Avoid tools designed to ‘fool’ AI detectors 

Using “humanizer” tools to manipulate text and bypass plagiarism and AI detection systems is risky and can be viewed as misconduct or cheating if caught. Instead, stick to trusted AI tools for research papers like Paperpal that prioritize responsible AI use and provide an AI Footprint to help you track AI contributions in your writing. 

4. Follow your institution or journal’s AI policy  

Policies around AI in academic writing are still evolving, but many universities and publishers have started issuing their own guidelines. When in doubt, reach out to your supervisor or target journal and refer to globally accepted AI guidelines for researchers. 

5. Invest time in understanding ethical AI use 

Ethical AI use in academia isn’t just about avoiding trouble, it’s about preserving your voice and your credibility as a researcher. Learn how AI tools work, know their limits, and do your part to integrate them responsibly into your workflow. Try Paperpal for free now and benefit from AI that brings out the best in you!  

Paperpal is a comprehensive AI writing toolkit that helps students and researchers achieve 2x the writing in half the time. It leverages 23+ years of STM experience and insights from millions of research articles to provide in-depth academic writing, language editing, and submission readiness support to help you write better, faster. 

Get accurate academic translations, rewriting support, grammar checks, vocabulary suggestions, and generative AI assistance that delivers human precision at machine speed. Try for free or upgrade to Paperpal Prime starting at US$25 a month to access premium features, including consistency, plagiarism, and 30+ submission readiness checks to help you succeed. 

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