Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

We acknowledge that generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including large language models and similar technologies, are increasingly used in research and writing. This policy sets out how such tools may and may not be used in work submitted to, reviewed by, or published in our journal. It applies to authors, reviewers and editors and reflects the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

For Authors

• AI cannot be an author: Generative AI tools do not meet the criteria for authorship, which require accountability for the work, agreement to its publication, and the ability to respond to questions about it. AI tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors.
• Authors are fully responsible for their manuscripts: Any content produced with the assistance of AI must be checked by the authors for accuracy, originality and integrity. Authors bear full responsibility for everything in their manuscript, including any part prepared with AI assistance.
• Disclosure is required: Authors must disclose any use of generative AI tools in the preparation of their manuscript. The disclosure should name the tool used, describe how it was used, and confirm that the authors have reviewed and take responsibility for the output. A brief statement in a dedicated section (for example, “Declaration of AI Use”) is sufficient. For example:
  “During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used [name of tool] in order to [state specific use]. After using this tool, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take full responsibility for the content of the publication.”
• Use that does not require disclosure: Routine tools that assist with spelling, grammar or basic language editing, and that do not generate, alter or interpret content, do not normally require disclosure.
• Citations must be genuine: AI tools are known to produce plausible but false references. Authors must verify that every citation is real, accurate and genuinely supports the claim it is attached to. Manuscripts found to contain fabricated or misattributed citations will be rejected.
• AI-generated data, images and results: AI tools must not be used to fabricate, alter or manipulate research data, results or images. Where AI is used legitimately as part of the research methodology, this must be described clearly in the methods.

For Reviewers

• Confidentiality must be protected: Manuscripts under review are confidential documents. Reviewers must not upload any part of a manuscript to generative AI tools, as doing so may breach confidentiality and the authors’ rights; submitted text may be stored or used by third-party systems.
• Review is a human responsibility: Reviewers must not delegate their assessment to AI tools. The critical judgement, expertise and accountability that peer review depends on cannot be outsourced to a machine. Reviewers may not use AI to generate their review reports.
• Disclosure: Any reviewer who has used an AI tool in any part of the review process must disclose this to the editors.

For Editors

• Editorial decisions are made by humans: Editors must not use AI tools as the basis for decisions on manuscripts. Responsibility for editorial decisions rests entirely with the editors.
• Confidentiality: Editors must not upload manuscripts or any confidential material to AI tools.
• Detection tools: Editors may use tools that help identify plagiarism, manipulated images, or undisclosed AI-generated content, but any concern raised by such a tool is assessed through human judgement, not treated as conclusive on its own.

Breaches of this Policy

Undisclosed or inappropriate use of AI by authors, reviewers or editors, is treated as a breach of publication ethics. Depending on the circumstances, it may lead to rejection of a manuscript, or, for published work, a correction, retraction or expression of concern, in accordance with our Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement.

Review of this Policy

AI technologies and best practice in scholarly publishing are evolving quickly. Our Journal will review and update this policy as needed to reflect new developments and emerging standards.