AI Translations Fine Says arXiv as it Requires English Version for All Submissions

arXiv, one of the world’s largest open-access repositories for scientific research, will require all submitted papers to include a full English-language version — either as the original manuscript or as an included translation — from February 1, 2026.

Until now, arXiv has allowed papers to be submitted in languages other than English as long as they included an English abstract. The new policy, announced on November 21, 2025, “expands the translation requirements to both the abstract and the full paper for non-English submissions.”

arXiv said the change is designed to improve moderation and quality control, noting that its volunteer moderators may not be fluent in all languages. The platform also framed the update as a way to improve global accessibility, given English’s role as the dominant language of scientific communication.

AI Translations Accepted

The organization acknowledged that not all researchers have access to professional translation services and confirmed that authors do not need to rely on professional human translation services only to comply with the new requirements. AI translations will be accepted, provided they accurately reflect the original content. 

“Non-English paper versions that use automated translation are acceptable, as long as their content is faithful to the original paper,” arXiv said.

Detailed submission guidelines are expected by January 2026, giving authors time and clarity to prepare papers ahead of the policy’s implementation.

The move has sparked discussion among researchers, with critics warning that mandatory English translation could discourage non-English scholarship. arXiv said the policy is not intended to “discourage” authors or limit linguistic diversity, but rather to support bilingual submissions that balance local language use with international reach.