Purpose

This policy outlines the ethical guidelines and best practices for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by authors, reviewers, and editors in the submission, review, and publication processes. Our goal is to ensure the integrity, transparency, and ethical standards of scholarly work.

Guidelines for Authors

Use of AI Tools in Manuscript Preparation

Transparency: Authors must disclose the use of AI tools in the preparation of their manuscript. This includes, but is not limited to, AI-assisted writing, data analysis, and figure generation.

Accuracy: Authors are responsible for verifying the accuracy of information generated or analysed by AI tools. AI-generated content should be thoroughly reviewed for errors or biases.

Acknowledgment: Any AI tools used should be acknowledged in the appropriate section of the manuscript (e.g., Acknowledgments or Methods).

Ethics Compliance: Authors must ensure that the use of AI tools complies with ethical guidelines, including data privacy and the avoidance of plagiarism.

Authorship: AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant intellectual contributions to the work.

 

Guidelines for Reviewers

Use of AI Tools in Peer Review

Supplementary Role: AI tools may be used to assist in the review process, such as checking for plagiarism or analysing data consistency. However, they should not replace the critical judgment of the reviewer.

Disclosure: Reviewers must disclose if they have used AI tools in their review and provide details on the nature and extent of their use.

Confidentiality: Reviewers must ensure that any AI tools used in the review process comply with confidentiality agreements and do not store or misuse manuscript data.

 

Guidelines for Editors

Use of AI Tools in Editorial Processes

Assistance: AI tools may assist editors in tasks such as initial manuscript screening, plagiarism detection, and identifying potential reviewers. However, final decisions should be made by human editors.

Disclosure and Transparency: Editors must disclose the use of AI tools in the editorial process and ensure that their use is transparent to authors and reviewers.

Bias and Fairness: Editors should be aware of potential biases in AI tools and take steps to mitigate them, ensuring fair and unbiased editorial decisions.