Policy on Artificial Intelligence

www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/artificial-intelligence/

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Publishing

Proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) has made their use ubiquitous and the utility of AI/LLM in advancing science holds promise. However, there are concerns regarding validity, confidentiality, transparency, and accountability in the use of AI/LLM in scientific publishing. Because AI can generate authoritative-sounding output that can be incorrect, incomplete, or biased, humans are ultimately responsible for reviewing and ensuring the accuracy of any content generated with assistance of AI. Therefore, authors, reviewers, and editors/publishers should adhere to the following principles when using AI/LLM:

  • Authors should not list or cite AI and AI-assisted technologies as an author.
  • Because AI tools may incorporate information from sources without proper attribution (including copyright material), humans are responsible for citing appropriate sources, obtaining permissions when necessary, and ensuring that plagiarism has not occurred when using content generated by AI tools.
  • Because manuscripts submitted to journals are authors' privileged communication, using AI tools in the processing or evaluations of manuscripts may violate confidentiality. Editors, reviewers, or publishers should not upload submitted manuscript into AI systems where confidentiality cannot be assured without authors' explicit permission.
  • Editors/publishers, authors, and reviewers should be transparent in their use of AI tools at any stage of the editorial process, including manuscript preparation, editing, and review. When AI is used, users should disclose which tool was used, and for what purpose.

www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/artificial-intelligence/ai-use-by-authors.html 

Use of AI by Authors

The journal requires authors to disclose at submission whether they used AI-assisted technologies (such as LLMs, chatbots, or image creators) in the production of submitted work. Authors who use such technology should describe, in both the cover letter and the submitted work in the appropriate section, how they used it. Chatbots (such as ChatGPT) and other AI-assisted tools should not be listed as authors because they cannot be responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the work, and these responsibilities are required for authorship. Therefore, humans are responsible for any submitted material that includes the use of AI-assisted technologies. Authors should carefully review and edit the AI-generated content as the output can be incorrect, incomplete, or biased. Authors should be able to assert that there is no plagiarism in their paper, including in text and images produced by the AI. Humans must ensure there is appropriate attribution of all quoted material, including full citations. Referencing AI-generated material as the primary source is not acceptable. Nondisclosure of AI use may require corrective action and may be construed as misconduct in some circumstances

www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/artificial-intelligence/ai-use-by-reviewers.html 

Use of AI by Reviewers

Reviewers must adhere to the journal’s stated policy on the use of AI or request permission from the journal prior to using AI technology to facilitate their review. Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of the manuscript, which may prohibit the uploading of the manuscript to software or other AI technologies where confidentiality cannot be assured unless such use of AI is explicitly permitted by journals. Reviewers who use AI in their review should disclose its use to the journal and ensure the content is appropriate and valid as AI can generate output that can be incorrect, incomplete, or biased.

www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/artificial-intelligence/ai-use-by-editors.html

Editors’ Role in Ensuring Responsible Use of AI

Many forms of AI use can be very helpful, especially for those authoring content not in their primary language. Nonetheless, editors will query authors and authors should disclose if and how LLM and AI were used. For example, using AI to spell-check and correct grammar is generally viewed as acceptable whereas using AI for content generation must be considered in the context of the work. In all cases, authors should check the accuracy and validity of their content before submission. Editors will be vigilant that authors may not disclose AI use when queried and when discovered, appropriate queries will be raised.

Editors will not upload submitted manuscripts into AI systems where confidentiality cannot be assured without authors’ explicit permission. This journal has a policy for the use of AI in the review process and should make all editors, reviewers, and authors aware of this journal policy. Editors and reviewers are reminded that manuscripts submitted to journals are privileged communications and that uploading of the manuscript to software or other AI technologies where confidentiality cannot be assured is prohibited except with authors’ permission.

This journal does not use AI for copy-editing and other production purposes.