Policies on the use of AI

Policies on the use of AI and AI-enabled technologies

The journal adheres to the "Guidelines for the Use of AI in Science Communication" developed by  the European Association of Science Editors. We treat the use of AI as a convenient and effective tool in the hands of a scientist. With the use of any tool, the results obtained should be carefully checked and interpreted with knowledge. Since the feature of AI is a generative function (text generation, data processing and production of reports, etc.) This tool can be used dishonestly in the preparation of scientific articles. Therefore, the policy of using AI is closely related to the issue of compliance with the principles of publication ethics and plagiarism. The editors expect that each author will voluntarily declare the use of AI in the preparation of materials for our collection. 

For Authors

The Use of AI and AI-Enabled Technologies in Scientific Writing

PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE RULES ONLY APPLY TO THE WRITING PROCESS, NOT THE USE OF AI TOOLS TO ANALYZE AND EXTRACT INSIGHTS FROM DATA AS PART OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS.

If authors use generative AI and AI-enabled technologies in the writing process, these technologies should only be used to improve readability and correct grammatical errors in the work. The application of AI technology should be carried out under human supervision and control, and authors should carefully review and edit the result, as AI can produce authoritative results that may be incorrect, incomplete, or biased.

Authors are solely responsible for the content, authenticity, and originality of all AI-generated materials.

Authors should disclose in their manuscripts the use cases of AI and AI-enabled technologies. The use of AI should be indicated in the published work in the section "Declaration on Generative AI" indicating the name of the tool and the nature of its use. A statement on the use of these technologies maintains transparency and trust between authors, readers, reviewers and editors, and promotes compliance with the terms of use of the tool or technology in question.

Authors should not list AI and AI-powered technologies as the author or collaborator, nor should they cite AI as the author. Authorship implies duties and tasks that can only be assigned and performed by humans. Each (co)author is responsible for ensuring that issues related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are properly investigated and resolved, and authorship requires the ability to approve the final version of the work and agree to its submission. The authors are also responsible for ensuring that the work is original and does not violate the rights of third parties. All authors should familiarize themselves with our peer review process and adherence to the principles of publication ethics before submission.

Use of AI and AI-enabled technologies in drawings, images, and illustrations

We do not allow the use of generative AI or AI-assisted tools to create or modify images in submitted manuscripts. This can include enhancing, darkening, moving, removing, or adding a specific feature to an image or drawing. Adjusting brightness, contrast, or color balance is acceptable as long as it does not obscure or eliminate any information present in the original.

The only exception is when the use of AI or AI-assisted tools is part of research design or research methods. If these tools are used, it should be indicated and described appropriately in the text of the manuscript. An explanation of how the AI or AI-assisted tools were used in the process of creating or modifying an image must be added, as well as the name of the model or tool, version number and extension, and manufacturer. Authors must adhere to specific rules for using AI-powered software and ensure that content is properly linked. Where possible, authors may be asked to provide AI-corrected versions of images and/or composite raw images used to create final submissions for editorial evaluation.

The use of generative AI or AI-powered tools in the creation of artworks, such as graphic annotations, is prohibited.

Failure to comply with this policy may be grounds for rejection or retraction of the article.

For reviewers

When a researcher is invited to review another researcher's paper, the manuscript should be treated as a confidential document. Reviewers should not upload the submitted manuscript or any part of it to a generative AI tool, as this may violate the privacy and property rights of the authors, and if the article contains personal information, it may violate data privacy rights.

This confidentiality requirement applies to the reviewer's report (review), as it may contain confidential information about the manuscript and/or authors. For this reason, reviewers should not upload their review to an AI tool, even if it is only for the purpose of correcting grammatical errors and readability.

Peer review is the backbone of the scientific ecosystem, and the Editorial Board adheres to the highest standards of integrity in this process. Reviewing a scientific manuscript implies a responsibility that can only be placed on people. Reviewers should not use generative AI or AI-assisted technologies to facilitate the scientific review of an article, as the critical thinking and original evaluation required for peer review are beyond the scope of this technology, and there is a risk that this technology will lead to incorrect, incomplete, or biased conclusions about the manuscript. The reviewer is responsible for the content of the review.

The editorial board's policy on the use of AI states that authors are allowed to use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process before submitting an article, but only to improve readability and correct grammatical errors in their paper and with appropriate disclosures.

For editors

The submitted manuscript should be treated as a confidential document. Editors should not upload the submitted manuscript or any part of it to the generative AI tool, as this may violate the privacy and property rights of the authors, and also, if the article contains personal information, may violate data privacy rights.

This confidentiality requirement applies to all manuscript communications, including any communications or decision letters, as they may contain confidential information about the manuscript and/or authors. For this reason, editors should not upload their emails to an AI tool , even if it is only done for the purpose of improving language and readability.

The management of the editorial evaluation of a scientific manuscript implies a responsibility that can only be placed on people. Generative AI or AI-powered technologies should not be used by editors to assist in the manuscript evaluation or decision-making process, as the critical thinking and original evaluation required for this work are beyond the scope of this technology, and there is a risk that the technology will lead to incorrect, incomplete, or biased conclusions about the manuscript. The editor is responsible for the editorial process, the final decision, and the communication of it to the authors.

The Editorial Board's policy on authors states that authors are allowed to use generative AI and AI-assisted technology in the writing process before submitting an article, but only to improve readability and correct grammatical errors in their paper and with appropriate disclosures. If an editor suspects that an author or reviewer has violated the AI Policy, they should notify the editorial board.