arXiv Limits Submissions to Two per Month Amid AI-Driven Paper Surge

Summary

arXiv has immediately limited each submitter to two new submissions per calendar month and no more than three active submissions at a time. The rule applies whether papers are written entirely by humans or with AI assistance; rejected papers still count toward the monthly allowance. Because the limit is tied to the person who files a paper, multi-author research groups can submit more work through different submitters, so the policy is less likely to affect large institutions directly. arXiv received 40,363 submissions in September 2026, compared with 9,869 in September 2016 and 20,569 two years earlier, representing a 309 percent increase over the decade and a doubling in two years. The organization says a relatively small number of authors are sending many thin, narrowly scoped papers, including work split into multiple incremental submissions, consuming a disproportionate share of moderator time and delaying stronger papers. arXiv’s rules require significant AI use to be disclosed, AI tools to support research, and submissions to meet scholarly standards; the organization says many recent papers fail those requirements. The cap is a temporary measure while arXiv evaluates new submission practices, tracks moderation load and submission rates, and considers further changes. It is also asking researchers to submit work that reflects the full scope of a project rather than numerous incremental papers.