Wingfield, Brenda D.Wingfield, Beverly Jane2025-12-032025-12-032025-11Wingfield, B.D., & Wingfield, B.J. (2025). The hidden cost of open access: Artificial intelligence, paywalls and the risk of knowledge inequity. South African Journal of Science, 121(11/12). https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2025/23053.0038-2353 (print)1996-7489 (online)10.17159/sajs.2025/23053http://hdl.handle.net/2263/107068SIGNIFICANCE : This Commentary underscores the urgency of rethinking how artificial intelligence systems and publishing models intersect. Rather than focusing solely on efficiency or access, we call attention to structural inequities that shape who is visible in the scholarly record. By highlighting the systemic risks of exclusion, we argue for proactive collaboration between policymakers, publishers and technologists to design frameworks that safeguard equity and inclusivity in the future of academic research.en© 2025. The Author(s). Published under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence.Artifical intelligence (AI)Open accessJournal paywallsLarge language model (LLM)Knowledge equityCommentaryArticle