The Great Pyramid Story Shows Why Publishing Still Needs Sceptics
Darren Chastney | 2 September 2026 Every so often, a story comes along that seems almost designed for the internet. Ancient mysteries. Hidden chambers. Cutting-edge technology. Bold claims that challenge established understanding. The recent retraction of a paper claiming to have identified concealed structures within the Great Pyramid of Giza had all of those ingredients. […]
AI May Replace Proofreading. It Won’t Replace Responsibility
Darren Chastney | 2 September 2026 The debate about artificial intelligence in academic publishing often swings between two extremes. On one side are predictions that AI will transform scholarly writing. On the other are warnings that it will undermine research integrity. Both positions miss something important. The real issue is not whether AI can produce […]
AI Doesn’t Just Learn From Authors. It Learns From Researchers Too.
When people talk about the copyright implications of artificial intelligence, the conversation usually centres on novelists, journalists, musicians, and artists. But there is another group whose work has quietly become part of the AI story: Researchers. Every journal article, conference paper, textbook chapter, and academic publication represents years of specialised work. Behind each publication are […]
AI and Authors’ Rights: Can Innovation and Fairness Coexist?
Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we create, publish, translate, and consume content. Yet one of the most important questions remains unresolved: Who should benefit when AI systems are trained on the work of others? As part of my current editorial work with LITA (the Slovak Literary and Information Centre), I have been following ongoing […]
If Even Literary Prize Judges Can’t Tell, What Happens Next?
Darren Chastney | 28 May 2026 A major literary controversy last week has raised an uncomfortable question for publishers, prize judges, and readers alike: Can we still reliably tell the difference between human writing and AI-generated fiction? The debate emerged after concerns were raised over one of the regional winners of the 2026 Commonwealth Short […]
“Book Club” Scam Targets Content Producers
Darren Chastney May 25, 2026 A few days ago, I received an email from someone claiming to run a literary organisation called “vermontbookclub”. At first glance, it looked entirely legitimate. The sender referenced my recent posts about AI guardrails, translation ethics, and the challenges of preserving meaning between languages. They mentioned my work in Bratislava, […]
What Reviewers Really Notice (Even If They Don’t Say It)
When a paper is reviewed, feedback usually focuses on the big things: methodology, argumentation, contribution. But smaller language issues often play a quieter role in how that work is perceived. Not necessarily consciously—and not always explicitly stated. A sentence that is slightly ambiguous.A claim that feels just a little too strong.An explanation that requires a […]
When “Clear Enough” Isn’t Clear at All
In academic writing, clarity is often assumed rather than tested.
From Porridge to Panicky Horses
This blog looks at Slovak expressions and the importance of their human transcreation into the English equivalents.
AI-poetry: more human than human?
AI Poetry: Revolutionizing Perceptions of Creativity A groundbreaking study has revealed that AI-generated poetry is rated more favorably than classic works by human poets like Shakespeare or Dickinson. Non-expert readers were largely unable to distinguish AI poems from human-authored ones, with many perceiving AI creations as “more human than human.” The study found that AI […]