Are you an AI researcher racing against deadlines to publish your latest work? Whether you’re chasing thesis submission timelines, funding requirements, or simply eager to share your discoveries with the world, publishing in Scopus-indexed journals with a fast review process is crucial. This guide will help you discover how to AI research fast, real-world publishing insights, and smart submission strategies.
Why Speed Matters in AI Publishing
Artificial Intelligence research moves fast. With breakthroughs emerging almost every week, waiting 6–12 months for journal publication can be a major setback. That’s why more researchers are opting for fast-track journals—those with:
- Scopus indexing (to maintain academic credibility)
- Rapid peer review (under 2 months)
- Open-access options (to increase visibility)
Let’s explore the top picks for 2025!
Top Scopus-Indexed AI Journals with Rapid Review – Publish AI Research Fast
Ultra-Fast Review (Under 30 Days)
MDPI AI Journal
- First decision: ~20.7 days
- Acceptance to publication: 3.9 days
- Indexing: Scopus, ESCI
- Why it’s fast: AI-assisted editorial workflows
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AI Open (Elsevier)
- Time to first decision: ~30 days
- Acceptance to publication: 21 days
- Rank: Q1 in Scopus
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IAES International Journal of Artificial Intelligence
- Review time: 30–60 days
- Scopus Indexed since 2018
- Link
Fast but Detailed Review (1–3 Months)
Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence
- Submission to acceptance: ~90 days
- Interactive peer review system
- Transparent publishing
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JAIR – Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research
- Peer review duration: 2–3 months
- Open Access since 1993
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Applied Intelligence
- First decision: ~2 months
- Total time to publication: ~3 months
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Fast-Track AI Publishing Platforms
IEEE Access & IEEE Open Journals
- Review + publication: 4–6 weeks
- Focus on applied AI and engineering topics
- IEEE Open
Springer AI Journals (Fast Editions)
- AI Perspectives (SpringerOpen): ~4 weeks
- International Journal of AI in Education: ~14 days first decision
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MDPI AI Journal Family
- First decision: 20–30 days
- Minor revision: 5 days
- Major revision: ~14 days
- AI-assisted editorial management
- Editorial Process
What Affects Review Speed?
Understanding what speeds up or delays your paper is key.
Editorial Pre-Screening
Fast journals quickly desk-reject or forward papers to reviewers—no limbo.
Reviewer Availability
AI is booming—reviewers are swamped. Journals with large reviewer pools or AI reviewer selection systems move faster.
AI-Driven Review Management
Modern journals use AI tools to screen submissions and match them with suitable reviewers, cutting days off review cycles.
Quality vs. Speed: Striking the Right Balance – Fast Scopus-indexed journals
Speed is great, but never compromise on quality. Check these high-quality journals with slightly longer timelines:
| Journal Name | Avg Review Time | Impact Factor | Indexing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pattern Recognition | ~84 days | High | Scopus, SCI |
| Expert Systems with Applications | ~5.3 months | High | Scopus, SCI |
| Neural Networks | ~10.5 weeks | Strong | Scopus, SCI |
| Nature Machine Intelligence | Longer (~4–6 months) | 25.898 | Scopus, WoS |
Recommendations for Quick AI Publication
Fastest Options (Under 1 Month)
- MDPI AI Journal
- AI Open (Elsevier)
- IAES IJ-AI
Balanced Speed and Quality (1–3 Months)
- Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence
- JAIR
- Applied Intelligence
- IEEE Access
AI Journal Review Timeline Table
Based on comprehensive research of Scopus-indexed artificial intelligence journals, here is a detailed review timeline table organized by publication speed in weeks:
Ultra-Fast Publication Options (≤6 Weeks)
| Journal Name | Publisher | Review Timeline (Weeks) | First Decision | Publication Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronics – AI Section (MDPI) | MDPI | 2.3 | 16.4 days | Anonymous peer review | 2.4 days acceptance to publication |
| AI (MDPI) | MDPI | 3 | 2.9 weeks | Anonymous peer review | 21 days from acceptance to publication |
| AI Perspectives (SpringerOpen) | Springer | 4 | 4 weeks | Anonymous peer review | Fastest SpringerOpen option |
| IEEE Access | IEEE | 4-6 | 4-6 weeks | Anonymous peer review | Submission to publication |
| AI Open | Elsevier/KeAi | 4-5 | 30 days | Anonymous peer review | 21 days acceptance to publication |
| Сучасні інформаційні системи | Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute | 5 | 5 weeks | Double anonymous peer review | Ukrainian journal |
| Journal of Intelligence | MDPI | 6 | 6 weeks | Anonymous peer review | Fast MDPI option |
| BioMed Target Journal | QAASPA | 6 | 6 weeks | Double anonymous peer review | Multi-disciplinary |
| Applied Sciences | MDPI | 6 | 6 weeks | Anonymous peer review | AI section |
| Big Data and Cognitive Computing | MDPI | 6 | 6 weeks | Anonymous peer review | Cognitive computing focus |
Fast Publication Options (6-12 Weeks)
| Journal Name | Publisher | Review Timeline (Weeks) | First Decision | Publication Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journal of Intelligence Studies in Business | Halmstad University | 8 | 8 weeks | Double anonymous peer review | Business focus |
| Artificial Intelligence in the Life Sciences | Elsevier | 8 | 8 weeks | Anonymous peer review | Life sciences focus |
| Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence | Elsevier | 8 | 8 weeks | Double anonymous peer review | Education applications |
| Journal of Social Computing | Tsinghua University Press | 8 | 8 weeks | Anonymous peer review | Social computing focus |
| Database Systems Journal | Bucharest University | 9 | 9 weeks | Anonymous peer review | Database focus |
| Cognitive Computation and Systems | Wiley | 10 | 10 weeks | Anonymous peer review | Cognitive systems |
| Smart Energy | Elsevier | 10 | 10 weeks | Anonymous peer review | Energy applications |
| IEEE Open Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems | IEEE | 10 | 10 weeks | Anonymous peer review | Transportation focus |
| Intelligent Computing | AAAS | 11 | 11 weeks | Anonymous peer review | AAAS publication |
Moderate Speed Options (12-15 Weeks)
| Journal Name | Publisher | Review Timeline (Weeks) | First Decision | Publication Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journal of Machine Learning Research (JMLR) | JMLR | 12-16 | 12 weeks | Anonymous peer review | 4-6 months total |
| Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence | Frontiers Media | 13 | 13 weeks | Interactive review forum | 90 days submission to acceptance |
| Nature Machine Intelligence | Nature | 10-15 | 11 days (immediate rejection) | Anonymous peer review | 90 days from submission to acceptance |
Standard Academic Journals (20+ Weeks)
| Journal Name | Publisher | Review Timeline (Weeks) | First Decision | Publication Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research (JAIR) | JAIR | 18-20 | 13-19 weeks | Anonymous peer review | 40.7 weeks expected acceptance time |
| Machine Learning | Springer | 20 | 5 months | Anonymous peer review | 8.2 months total handling |
| Artificial Intelligence Review | Springer | 21 | 5.3 months | Anonymous peer review | 12 days official, 5.3 months author data |
| Artificial Intelligence | Elsevier | 48 | 7 days | Anonymous peer review | 335 days review time |
Key Findings and Recommendations
Speed Categories Distribution
- Fast (≤6 weeks): 10 journals
- Moderate (6-12 weeks): 14 journals
- Standard (>12 weeks): 5 journals
Publisher Performance
MDPI consistently demonstrates the fastest review cycles with multiple journals offering 2-6 week turnaround times. Their AI-focused journals benefit from streamlined editorial processes and AI-assisted reviewer matching.
IEEE provides reliable 4-6 week publication timelines through IEEE Access and its open journal portfolio4. Their established reviewer networks enable consistent, fast processing.
Elsevier offers mixed performance, with AI Open providing 4-5 week cycles while traditional journals like Artificial Intelligence require up to 48 weeks.
Review Process Variations
- Anonymous peer review: Most common format
- Double anonymous peer review: Higher quality assurance but potentially longer timelines
- Interactive review forum: Frontiers’ innovative approach enables 90-day cycles
Strategies to Get Published Faster
Even in fast journals, your preparation matters.
1. Format Perfectly
Follow submission guidelines 100%. Don’t give editors a reason to delay.
2. Target Special Issues
Look for “Call for Papers” or “Special Issues” with expedited processing.
3. Consider Open Access
Many OA journals speed up the publication cycle and improve reach.
4. Double-Check Indexing
Always verify Scopus indexing at Scopus Preview before submitting.
5. Stay Updated
Use platforms like:
Final Thoughts
The demand for fast, Scopus-indexed publication in AI is growing, and many journals now offer high-speed alternatives without sacrificing quality.
If you’re ready to publish, go beyond just speed—think impact, visibility, and alignment with your research goals. Choose the right journal, prepare your manuscript professionally, and you’re on your way to successful AI publishing in 2025!
FAQs
Not necessarily. Many journals like MDPI AI, AI Open, and Frontiers in AI balance both speed and credibility.
Yes, if the journal is Scopus-indexed and follows standard peer review practices.
Visit Scopus Sources, search the journal name, and check the current status.
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