Elsevier, the publisher of the Journal of Human Evolution, has denied the use of artificial intelligence in its production processes, countering claims made by the journal’s editorial board upon their mass resignation. The controversy arose after all but one board member resigned in protest, citing concerns about the publisher’s editorial standards and infrastructure management.
On December 26, 2024, the journal’s outgoing editors released a statement claiming that Elsevier had introduced AI into the production process without prior consultation. The use of AI allegedly led to improperly formatted article proofs, including the removal of capitalization for proper nouns and incorrect formatting for genera and species.
In response, an Elsevier spokesperson clarified, “We do not use AI in our production processes. The journal trialed a new production workflow that inadvertently introduced the formatting errors referenced by the editors. Based on their feedback, we have already reverted to the journal’s previous workflow.”
The resignations mark a significant shift for the journal, which the departing editorial team had guided for nearly four decades. Despite this upheaval, Elsevier has appointed three new editors-in-chief to continue the journal’s legacy: Nohemi Sala from the National Research Centre on Human Evolution in Spain, Song Xing from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in China, and Radu Iovita from New York University’s Center for the Study of Human Origins.
The former editors-in-chief, Mark Grabowski and Andrea B. Taylor, have yet to comment on the situation. Elsevier is committed to upholding the journal’s high standards and ensuring the continued publication of quality research.