> Inserting the hidden prompt was inappropriate, as it encourages positive reviews even though the use of AI in the review process is prohibited.
I think this is a totally ethical thing for a paper writer to do. Include an LLM honeypot. If your reviews come back and it seems like they’ve triggered the honeypot, blow the whistle loudly and scuttle that “reviewer’s” credibility. Every good, earnest researcher wants good, honest feedback on their papers—otherwise the peer-review system collapses.
I’m not saying peer-review isn’t without flaws; but it’s infinitely better than a rubber-stamping bot.