AI Policy

AI Policy

Policy for AI Usage in Writing and Publishing for MyJICT

The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) tools has profoundly influenced academic writing and publishing. Although AI can augment productivity and facilitate academic endeavors, its application must conform to ethical principles and uphold academic integrity. This policy delineates the protocols for the proper utilization of AI in preparing and submitting manuscripts to guarantee transparency, accountability, and the integrity of academic work.

1. Scope of Policy

This policy is applicable to all authors submitting manuscripts to the MyJICT, as well as to reviewers and editors participating in the peer review and editorial processes by using AI tools throughout all stages of manuscript preparation, review, and publication.

2. Permissible AI Usage for Authors

Authors may utilize AI tools in the following ways, contingent upon their compliance with ethical standards:

  • Language Editing: Utilize tools such as grammar and style checkers (e.g., Grammarly) to improve clarity and coherence. The utilization of such instruments does not necessitate disclosure.
  • Data Analysis: AI-driven software for statistical analysis, data visualization, or computing functions.
  • Reference Management: AI-enhanced solutions for the generation and organization of citations (e.g., EndNote, Zotero). The utilization of reference management technologies does not necessitate disclosure.
  • Supplementary Assistance: AI systems can aid in literature reviews by discovering pertinent sources, but should not supplant the authors' critical judgment. 

3. Prohibited Uses of AI for Authors

AI usage is not permitted for the following tasks:

  • Authorship Attribution: AI technologies are not eligible for inclusion as co-authors.
    • Content Generation Without Disclosure: Authors are prohibited from employing AI tools to produce substantive content (e.g., composing text, generating results, or summarizing findings) without providing appropriate acknowledgement.
    • Data Fabrication: Using artificial intelligence (AI) to generate falsified or manipulated data is rigorously prohibited.
    • Unverified Outputs: Authors are prohibited from utilizing AI tools to generate scientific arguments, conclusions, or claims without conducting thorough validation.

4. AI Usage for the context of Reviewers

Reviewers are permitted to employ AI tools in a restricted capacity to facilitate their review responsibilities, provided that they comply with the following regulations:
• Allowable Applications: o Language Assistance: Artificial intelligence tools may be implemented to enhance the clarity of comments or recommendations.
• Forbidden Usage:
o Content Generation: Reviewers are forbidden from employing AI to compose reviews or generate comments without conducting a personal evaluation.
o. Confidentiality Breach: Reviewers are forbidden from uploading any portion of the manuscript to any AI tool. The use of AI tools must not jeopardize the confidential nature of the manuscript.

5. AI Usage for the context of Editors

Editors may employ AI tools to expedite the editorial process; however, their implementation must adhere to the subsequent guidelines:
• Allowed Applications: o Administrative Support: AI may be employed to assist in the management of submissions, the monitoring of deadlines, and the assignment of reviewers.
o Ethical Checks and Plagiarism: Editors may employ AI tools to detect potential ethical concerns, such as undisclosed AI usage or plagiarism.
• Forbidden Usage:
o Decision-Making: It is forbidden to employ AI tools to assess the scientific merit of manuscripts or make editorial decisions.
o Content Creation: Editors are forbidden from employing AI tools to compose editorial comments or correspondence without supervision.
Editors are accountable for all editorial decisions and must prevent AI tools from replacing their critical judgment or accountability.

6. Disclosure Requirements

To preserve transparency, authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any utilization of AI tools that exceeds fundamental spelling, grammar checks, and reference management. This encompasses:
• Information regarding the AI tools employed: In a designated section (e.g., "Methods" or "Acknowledgments"), specify the tools (e.g., Bard, ChatGPT) and their intended use.
• The degree of AI involvement: Give a detailed explanation of the usage.
• Transparency Statement Format: The following statement must be included after the manuscript, before the References section, for any substantive AI assistance: "The author(s) employed [NAME TOOL / SERVICE] to [REASON] during the preparation of this work." The author(s) reviewed and edited the content as necessary after utilizing this tool/service, and they assume full accountability for the content of the publication.

7. Verification of AI Usage

  • Editorial Control and Monitoring: Editors retain the authority to request further information or clarification concerning the use of AI.
  • Plagiarism and AI Content Checks: In order to guarantee originality and identify potential AI-generated content, manuscripts and reviews will undergo screenings with sophisticated detection tools.
  • Results Reproducibility and Validation: The authors must verify and replicate any AI-influenced data or discoveries.

8. Accountability and Authorship

Human Responsibility: The accuracy, originality, and ethical conformance of their work are entirely the responsibility of the authors, reviewers, and editors, irrespective of the involvement of AI.

Authorship Criteria: Authorship credit is granted exclusively to individuals who satisfy the journal's authorship criteria, which include substantial intellectual contributions.

9. Impact of Unethical AI usage

If non-compliance with policy:

  • Manuscript can be rejected
  • Published articles to be retracted.
  • Authors, Reviewers and Institution are to be notified.
  • Future submissions or review assignments are prohibited depending on the severity of the violation.

Conclusion

MyJICT promotes the ethical and responsible use of AI tools by authors, reviewers, and editors throughout their academic careers. Academic publishing remains adherent to the principles of ethical integrity, accountability, and transparency.