The Neurosurgical Review, a journal under Springer Nature, has recently retracted 129 papers due to concerns over AI-generated content. This unprecedented wave of retractions highlights the growing challenges academic publishers face in ensuring research integrity in the era of artificial intelligence.
Most of the retracted papers were commentaries and letters to the editor, with many authored by researchers affiliated with Saveetha University in Chennai, India. The journal halted new submissions for such content in late 2023 after noticing an influx of AI-assisted manuscripts without proper disclosure.
According to Sverre Klemp, an executive publisher at Springer Nature, the journal’s investigation is still ongoing, and further editorial actions may follow. The retraction notices stated that the affected papers showed “strong indications” of being generated using large language models (LLMs), violating the journal’s editorial policies.
Debate Over AI’s Role in Academic Publishing
One of the authors affected by these retractions, Dr. SivakamavalliJeyachandran of Saveetha Dental College, strongly opposed the decision, arguing that failing to disclose AI use does not equate to serious research misconduct such as data fabrication or plagiarism. Jeyachandran emphasized that if journals start retracting papers merely due to undisclosed AI assistance, it could blur the lines between acceptable and unacceptable practices.
However, Neurosurgical Review’s submission guidelines clearly state that any use of AI tools must be documented in the manuscript’s methods section or another appropriate area. While AI-assisted copy editing does not require disclosure, AI-generated content without human accountability is considered a breach of publishing ethics.
Retraction Surge Tied to Institutional Practices
This incident is not the first time Saveetha University has come under scrutiny. In 2023, Science and Retraction Watch reported the institution’s involvement in aggressive self-citation practices—also known as citation stacking—which artificially inflates research impact metrics. Retractions of Saveetha-affiliated research have been steadily increasing, with at least 80 papers retracted in 2024 alone. The 2025 total has already reached 90 papers within the first six weeks of the year.
The Growing Challenge of AI in Research Integrity
The integration of AI in scholarly publishing presents both opportunities and risks. While AI can enhance manuscript editing, literature review, and data analysis, concerns persist regarding its undisclosed use in drafting academic papers. Many leading publishers, including Springer Nature and Elsevier, are tightening policies to ensure transparency and uphold research integrity.
As AI continues to reshape the research landscape, academic journals face increasing pressure to implement robust detection measures, ethical guidelines, and clear policies on AI-generated content. This recent wave of retractions serves as a wake-up call for both researchers and publishers to navigate AI’s role in academia responsibly.