Evolving Epistemic Infrastructure: The Role of Scientific Journals in the Age of Generative AI

Summary

Yoo argues that scientific journals, as components of our epistemic infrastructure, must adapt to generative AI such as GPT and Bard. Drawing on the recombinatorial nature of knowledge creation, he suggests generative AI can facilitate "long jumps" in knowledge exploration. He proposes decentralization and deferred/temporary binding as two characteristics of an evolving epistemic infrastructure that supports precarious knowledge production, and foresees journals extending beyond traditional gatekeeping roles.

Contribution

Proposes decentralization and deferred and temporary binding as defining characteristics of the future epistemic infrastructure, and calls on scholars to use generative AI to enable broader knowledge exploration and a more inclusive scientific ecosystem.

Method

Opinion piece; conceptual essay, no empirical study reported.

Relevance to RISE

Yoo (Case Western) frames scientific journals as epistemic infrastructure and asks how the institutional apparatus must evolve when GenAI participates in knowledge production. Direct conceptual support for treating RISE as an infrastructure problem, not merely a tooling problem.

Critique / open questions

Single-author opinion piece with no empirical evaluation; proposed constructs (decentralization, deferred/temporary binding) are not operationalized or tested.