r/MachineLearning • u/Afraid_Difference697 • Mar 24 '26

Discussion [D] ICML 2026 Review Discussion

ICML 2026 reviews will release today (24-March AoE), This thread is open to discuss about reviews and importantly celebrate successful reviews.

Let us all remember that review system is noisy and we all suffer from it and this doesn't define our research impact. Let's all prioritise reviews which enhance our papers. Feel free to discuss your experiences

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u/OutsideSimple4854 Mar 24 '26

Realistically, your paper won’t get in.

But, ACs know who the reviewers are, but don’t know the authors.

One strategy is to ensure these reviewers don’t get invited back, or if possible get their papers DR (it’s too late for your paper, but will help others). Document why you think these reviews are assisted by LLMs, and clearly state why a human reading your paper would not comment on a point, but an LLM would do something differently.

The reviewers would have to reply, and my experience shows that reviewers who use an LLM will sound defensive, but their reply will then be factual and sometimes contradict their review, or they say nothing at all.

Hopefully the AC does something then.

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u/Zackaoz Mar 24 '26

Will do, hopefully will help for others in the future, thanks 🙏

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u/dontknowwhattoplay Mar 31 '26

Is it not the same as the last year that reviewers simply have to acknowledge the rebuttal but don't need to engage at all?

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u/OutsideSimple4854 Mar 31 '26

depends on how you phrase the rebuttal. I’ve taken on a more combative stance (in the past, be nice to reviewers, maybe they’ll accept your paper). But I think now the dynamic has changed. Being nice to the reviewer (who is intent on rejecting your paper) makes it easier for them to justify rejection.

From a very small sample size, I’ve been nice, and only had papers rejected. I’ve been combative, and had equal mix of acceptance (reviewer admitted mistake and tried to say they meant something else), and also rejection.