USE OF AI STATEMENT

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools Statement

Authors are required to disclose any use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, including generative AI and AI-assisted technologies such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Grammarly, Gemini, Claude, or similar tools, during the preparation, writing, editing, or revision of their manuscript.

Every use of AI tools must be explicitly disclosed and described in the manuscript. The disclosure should identify the AI tool used, the purpose of its use, and confirm that the authors have reviewed, verified, and approved the resulting content. AI tools must not be listed as authors, and the authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and final content of the manuscript.

AI tools may be used to support the manuscript preparation process for appropriate purposes, including but not limited to:

Language editing, such as correcting grammar, spelling, punctuation, vocabulary, and sentence structure.
Improving clarity and readability, including rephrasing awkward sentences, simplifying language, improving conciseness, and enhancing the flow of the manuscript.
Technical and formatting assistance, such as assistance with LaTeX code, formatting, figure or table layout, and other technical aspects of manuscript preparation.
Brainstorming and design support, such as generating suggestions for the structure or presentation of figures, illustrations, or other visual elements.
Other supportive and non-substantive tasks that assist the authors in preparing or presenting their own scientific work.

These uses are acceptable only when AI functions as a supporting tool rather than a substitute for the authors' scientific reasoning, critical thinking, creativity, and authorship. The examples above are consistent with documented scholarly use of AI tools for language refinement, technical assistance, and figure-design brainstorming.

AI tools must not be used to replace the authors' intellectual contribution or to generate original scientific content, including research findings, scientific arguments, interpretations, conclusions, fabricated data, fabricated references, or other substantive content that constitutes the core intellectual contribution of the manuscript. Authors should also independently verify all AI-assisted information, as AI-generated outputs may contain inaccurate or fabricated information.

Mandatory AI Disclosure

If AI tools are used at any stage of manuscript preparation, authors must include an AI Use Statement in the manuscript. The statement should specify:

The AI tool(s) used, including the name and, where relevant, version of the tool;
The purpose and nature of its use;
The section or aspect of the manuscript affected, where applicable; and
Confirmation that the authors critically reviewed, verified, edited, and approved the AI-assisted content.

For example:

“ChatGPT-4o (OpenAI) was used to improve the readability, grammar, and language of selected sections of the manuscript. The authors reviewed, edited, and verified all AI-assisted content and take full responsibility for the final version of the manuscript.”

Another example for technical assistance is:

“ChatGPT was used to provide assistance with LaTeX formatting and figure layout. All suggestions were reviewed and adapted by the authors, who take full responsibility for the final content and presentation.”

If AI tools were not used in the preparation of the manuscript, authors may state:

“The authors did not use generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in the preparation of this manuscript.”

The journal encourages transparent reporting rather than relying solely on a fixed percentage of AI-generated text. The acceptability of AI use will therefore be assessed based on its purpose, extent, transparency, and impact on the authors' intellectual contribution, rather than solely on the proportion of AI-assisted text.

To ensure manuscript integrity, the editorial team may use appropriate tools and editorial procedures to identify undisclosed or inappropriate use of AI-generated content. Editors may request clarification, additional disclosure, revision, or other appropriate action if excessive, inappropriate, or undisclosed AI use is identified.

Authors remain fully responsible for ensuring that the manuscript is accurate, original, ethically prepared, and compliant with the journal's publication ethics policy. AI tools should support authors' work, not replace human judgment, critical thinking, or scientific responsibility.

For further guidance, authors may refer to COPE’s Position Statement on AI.