Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Policy

Academic Journal Research (ACJOURE) recognizes the growing use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and AI-assisted technologies in research, academic writing, editing, data analysis, and scholarly communication.

This policy is intended to promote transparency, accountability, research integrity, confidentiality, and responsible use of artificial intelligence throughout the publication process.

The policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff.

1. AI Tools Cannot Be Authors

Generative AI tools, large language models, chatbots, or other AI systems cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to Academic Journal Research.

Authorship requires accountability for the accuracy, integrity, originality, and ethical conduct of the work. AI systems cannot assume such responsibility, approve the final version of a manuscript, disclose conflicts of interest, or respond to questions regarding research integrity.

All listed authors must be human individuals who meet the journal's authorship criteria.

2. Responsibility of Authors

Authors remain fully responsible for all content submitted to and published in Academic Journal Research, regardless of whether AI-assisted technologies have been used.

Authors are responsible for verifying:

  • the accuracy of information generated or assisted by AI;

  • the validity of arguments and interpretations;

  • the accuracy and existence of references and citations;

  • the originality of submitted content;

  • the integrity of data, tables, figures, and other research materials; and

  • compliance with copyright, confidentiality, privacy, and research ethics requirements.

The use of AI does not reduce or transfer the authors' responsibility for the manuscript.

3. Disclosure of Generative AI Use

Authors must transparently disclose the use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies when such tools have made a substantive contribution to the preparation or conduct of the research.

Disclosure is required when AI has been used, for example, to:

  • generate or substantially rewrite text;

  • assist with interpretation or analysis of research data;

  • generate computer code used in the research;

  • create or substantially modify tables, figures, images, or other research materials;

  • generate research instruments or substantive research content; or

  • perform other activities that materially influence the manuscript or research process.

Where applicable, authors should identify:

  • the name of the AI tool;

  • the version or model, where known;

  • the purpose for which it was used; and

  • the nature of the author's verification and oversight.

The disclosure should normally be included in the Methods, Acknowledgments, or a separate AI Use Disclosure statement, depending on the nature of the use.

4. Basic Language and Editorial Assistance

The use of conventional spelling checkers, grammar checkers, reference management software, formatting tools, or similar routine editorial assistance does not normally require disclosure.

However, when a generative AI system substantially generates, rewrites, summarizes, or changes the intellectual content of a manuscript, its use must be disclosed.

Regardless of the tool used, authors remain responsible for the final language and content of the manuscript.

5. AI-Generated References and Citations

Authors must not rely on AI-generated references without independently verifying them against reliable scholarly sources.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that every reference:

  • actually exists;

  • accurately represents the cited source;

  • contains correct bibliographic information;

  • is relevant to the statement it supports; and

  • has not been fabricated or incorrectly generated by an AI system.

Fabricated or deliberately misleading references may be treated as a publication ethics violation.

6. AI-Generated or AI-Manipulated Images

AI-generated or AI-manipulated images, figures, photographs, or other visual materials must not be presented as authentic research evidence when they do not accurately represent the underlying data or research process.

The use of generative AI to fabricate, falsify, manipulate, or misrepresent research data or images is prohibited.

When AI-generated material is itself the subject of the research, its use may be permitted provided that:

  • the use of AI is methodologically justified;

  • the AI tool and procedure are clearly described;

  • the generated material is appropriately identified; and

  • all applicable ethical, copyright, and research integrity requirements are satisfied.

7. Generative AI as a Research Tool

Academic Journal Research does not prohibit legitimate scholarly research involving artificial intelligence.

When generative AI is used as part of the research methodology, authors should provide sufficient information to allow readers to understand and evaluate its use.

Where relevant, authors should report the AI system or model used, the date or period of use, relevant settings or prompts, procedures for validating outputs, and limitations associated with the technology.

8. Confidential and Personal Data

Authors must not enter confidential, sensitive, personally identifiable, copyrighted, proprietary, or otherwise protected research information into generative AI systems unless they have appropriate authorization and the tool provides adequate safeguards for such information.

Authors remain responsible for compliance with applicable research ethics, informed consent, confidentiality, and data-protection requirements.

9. Use of Generative AI by Peer Reviewers

Manuscripts submitted to Academic Journal Research are confidential documents.

Reviewers must not upload submitted manuscripts, manuscript sections, unpublished data, figures, tables, supplementary materials, or confidential editorial correspondence to publicly accessible generative AI systems where confidentiality, privacy, intellectual property, or data security cannot be assured.

Reviewers remain personally responsible for the accuracy, integrity, objectivity, and scholarly judgment contained in their review reports.

AI systems must not replace the reviewer's independent expert assessment.

If AI-assisted technology is used in a manner that substantively contributes to a review and such use is permitted by the journal and consistent with confidentiality requirements, the reviewer should disclose the use to the editor.

10. Use of Generative AI by Editors

Editors and editorial staff must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.

Confidential manuscripts, unpublished research materials, peer-review reports, or identifiable author and reviewer information must not be uploaded to external generative AI systems when doing so could compromise confidentiality, intellectual property, or data protection.

AI-assisted tools may support administrative or editorial activities only when their use does not compromise confidentiality, editorial independence, or research integrity.

Final editorial decisions must always remain under human editorial responsibility.

11. AI Detection Tools

ACJOURE may use technological tools as part of manuscript screening and research-integrity assessment.

However, automated AI-detection results will not normally be used as the sole basis for rejecting a manuscript or alleging misconduct.

Where concerns arise, the editorial team will evaluate the manuscript and available evidence and may request clarification or supporting information from the authors.

12. Undisclosed or Inappropriate AI Use

Failure to disclose substantive use of generative AI, fabrication of content or references, manipulation of data, violation of confidentiality, or other inappropriate uses of AI may be investigated under the journal's Publication Ethics and Research Misconduct policies.

Depending on the circumstances and stage of publication, editorial actions may include:

  • requesting clarification or correction;

  • requiring revision;

  • rejection of the manuscript;

  • publication of a correction;

  • expression of concern;

  • retraction; or

  • notification of relevant institutions when serious research misconduct is suspected.

Actions will be determined according to the nature and severity of the issue.

13. Changes to This Policy

Generative AI technologies and standards for their use in scholarly publishing continue to evolve. Academic Journal Research may revise this policy periodically to reflect developments in technology, research integrity standards, and international scholarly publishing practices.

Authors, reviewers, and editors are responsible for consulting the current version of this policy when participating in the journal's publication process.

References to Good Publishing Practice

This policy is informed by internationally recognized principles of responsible scholarly publishing, including recommendations concerning generative artificial intelligence, authorship, transparency, accountability, confidentiality, and research integrity.

Relevant guidance includes the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) recommendations concerning generative AI and scholarly manuscripts.