Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-Assisted Technologies

This journal recognizes that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies, including generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, and similar large language models), may assist various aspects of scholarly communication. However, these technologies must be used responsibly, transparently, and ethically. Authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher remain fully accountable for their professional responsibilities, regardless of any AI assistance.

1. Policy for Authors

Authors may use AI-assisted technologies to support manuscript preparation, such as language improvement, grammar correction, editing, formatting, coding assistance, or data organization.

If generative AI is used beyond simple language correction, editing, or formatting, authors must clearly disclose its use in the manuscript. The disclosure should specify:

  • the AI tool used;

  • the purpose of its use; and

  • the extent of AI assistance.

Authors remain solely responsible for:

  • the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the manuscript;

  • verifying all AI-generated content, including facts, references, analyses, and interpretations;

  • ensuring that AI-generated content does not contain fabricated information, misleading statements, plagiarism, or copyright violations.

Generative AI tools:

  • cannot be listed as authors or co-authors;

  • cannot assume responsibility for the manuscript;

  • cannot hold copyright;

  • cannot be cited as scholarly sources or references.

A disclosure statement may be included in the Acknowledgements section or in a dedicated "Declaration of AI Use" section.

Example disclosure:

"During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used ChatGPT (OpenAI) to improve language clarity and readability. The authors reviewed, edited, and verified all outputs and take full responsibility for the content of this publication."

2. Policy for Peer Reviewers

Peer reviewers must preserve the confidentiality of all manuscripts under review.

Reviewers should not upload manuscripts or any confidential information into publicly available generative AI systems for the purpose of generating review reports or evaluations.

AI-assisted tools may only be used for limited language editing or grammar checking of the review report, provided that:

  • manuscript confidentiality is maintained;

  • no confidential manuscript content is disclosed to external AI services; and

  • the reviewer remains fully responsible for the final review.

All scientific judgments, recommendations, and review comments must originate from the reviewer.

3. Policy for Editors

Editors are responsible for ensuring the integrity of the editorial process.

Editors should not use generative AI to make editorial decisions or generate peer-review assessments.

AI-assisted technologies may be used for administrative or editorial support, such as language editing, plagiarism screening, metadata management, or workflow assistance, provided that:

  • editorial decisions remain entirely under human judgment;

  • confidentiality is maintained; and

  • AI outputs are carefully reviewed before use.

Editors remain solely responsible for all editorial decisions.

4. Policy for the Journal and Publisher

The journal may use automated tools to support editorial management, including but not limited to:

  • plagiarism or similarity checking;

  • image integrity screening;

  • metadata management;

  • language quality improvement; and

  • workflow management.

Where automated tools are routinely used, the journal will maintain transparency regarding their use.

All automated outputs are subject to human verification before any editorial action is taken. Editorial staff will review any AI-generated alerts or recommendations, including those related to similarity detection, image manipulation, undeclared AI use, or reviewer suggestions.

5. Ethical Principles

The journal is committed to the following principles:

  • Transparency in the use of AI.

  • Human oversight in all editorial decisions.

  • Accountability of authors, reviewers, and editors.

  • Protection of confidential information.

  • Integrity, originality, and reproducibility of scholarly publications.

Failure to disclose substantial AI use or misuse of AI technologies may constitute a breach of publication ethics and may result in manuscript rejection, correction, retraction, or other editorial actions in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policy.

Effective Date

This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy applies to all manuscripts submitted on or after the date of publication of this policy and may be updated periodically to reflect developments in scholarly publishing and international best practice