Opportunities and challenges of scholarly publishing and research dissemination in the age of digital technology and generative artificial intelligence

The rapid evolution of digital technologies has had a profound impact on the ways research is developed and communicated. This article discusses the changes in knowledge production and sharing that are gradually transforming scholarly publishing and research dissemination practices with the advent of digitalisation and, particularly, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). It first explores the impact on research dissemination as well as the opportunities and challenges faced by publishers and authors – namely, Open Science requirements, digital genres, accessibility, predatory practices, social media, and altmetrics. Then, the focus is placed on GenAI tools and their affordances for academic writing and scientific communication. Opportunities are reported in view of multilingual research, productivity, and dissemination. Several challenges pertaining to authorial voice, institutional support, and academic integrity are also examined. Insights gained suggest the need for clear guidance as well as professional development opportunities for the benefit of digitally- and GenAI-literate researchers.