Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

GJSES recognises that generative AI and AI-assisted tools (such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot or similar large language models) can help researchers. This policy sets out how they may be used by authors, reviewers and editors, so that the work we publish stays transparent, accurate and accountable. It follows the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. For authors

Permitted use. Authors may use AI tools to improve the language, readability and structure of their manuscript, and to support tasks such as searching the literature or checking code. Any such use must be supervised by the authors. Authors must carefully review and edit everything the tool produces, because AI can generate output that is incorrect, incomplete, biased, or that contains invented references.

Responsibility. Authors remain fully responsible for the content of their manuscript, including the accuracy of every fact, citation and data point, and for making sure the work is original and free of plagiarism.

Authorship. AI tools cannot be listed as an author or co-author, and cannot be cited as an author. Authorship carries responsibilities that only people can take on: approving the final version, being accountable for the work, and agreeing to its submission.

Not permitted. AI tools must not be used to:

  • generate, fabricate or alter research data or results;
  • create or manipulate images, figures or graphs. The only exception is when AI is part of the research design or methods, in which case it must be described in full in the Methods section, including the tool's name, version and how it was used;
  • write substantial parts of the scientific content, such as the interpretation of results or the conclusions, without the authors' critical oversight;
  • produce references that the authors have not checked against the original source.

Disclosure. Authors who used generative AI in preparing the manuscript must say so in a statement placed before the References, titled "Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in the Writing Process":

During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used [NAME OF TOOL / SERVICE] in order to [REASON]. After using this tool, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take full responsibility for the content of the publication.

No statement is needed for basic tools that only check spelling, grammar or reference formatting.

2. For reviewers

Manuscripts under review are confidential. Reviewers must not upload a manuscript, or any part of it, into a generative AI tool, because this may breach the authors' confidentiality and data rights. The same applies to the review report itself. Reviewers must not use AI to evaluate a manuscript or to write their review: peer review depends on the expert judgement, critical thinking and accountability of the reviewer, which AI cannot provide. Reviewers are responsible for the content of their reports.

3. For editors

Editors must treat submissions and all correspondence about them as confidential, and must not upload them into generative AI tools. Editorial decisions are made by people. AI tools are not used to assess manuscripts or decide their outcome. GJSES may use secure, licensed tools for technical checks, such as iThenticate for similarity screening.

4. Breaches of this policy

Undisclosed or inappropriate use of AI is treated as a breach of publication ethics. Depending on the case, GJSES may ask authors to revise or clarify, reject the manuscript, or issue a correction or retraction after publication, in line with COPE guidance.

This policy will be updated as AI tools and publishing standards develop. Questions can be sent to editor@gjses.org.