The Case for Generative AI in Scholarly Practice

Abstract

This paper defends the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in scholarship and argues for its legitimacy as a valuable tool for contemporary research practice. It uses a emergent property rights model of writing to shed light on the evolution of scholarly norms and practices in academic practice. The paper argues that generative AI extends the capital-intensive nature of modern academic writing. The paper discussing three potential uses for AI models in research practice: AI as a mentor, AI as an analytic tool, and AI as a writing tool. The paper considers how the use of generative AI interacts with two critical norms in scholarship: norms around authorship attribution and credits for contributions, and the norm against plagiarism. It concludes that the effective use of generative AI is a legitimate research practice for scholars seeking to experiment with new technologies that might enhance their productivity.

Keywords: artificial intelligence, generative AI, large language models, scholarly practice, property rights, writing

JEL Classification: D83, O31, I23, C63, O33