I asked ChatGPT, and here is the answer:
The prevailing school of thought regarding the use of AI to generate table of contents (TOC) images for scientific publications is not explicitly defined as of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021. The application of AI in generating TOC images is a relatively new and evolving area, and opinions may vary among scholars and researchers.
However, in general, the use of AI to generate TOC images in scientific publications is considered permissible as long as certain criteria are met. These criteria include ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the AI-generated images, maintaining transparency in the generation process, and adhering to the ethical standards of scientific publishing.
It is important to note that specific guidelines and policies may differ among journals and institutions. Therefore, it is recommended for authors to consult the guidelines of the target journal or institution to determine their stance on using AI-generated TOC images in scientific publications.