Policy on the Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies

For Authors, Reviewers, and Editors

Purpose. IJIMS recognizes that generative artificial intelligence and AI-assisted technologies may support scholarly work when used responsibly. These tools must not replace human expertise, critical thinking, independent judgment, or accountability. This policy promotes transparency, research integrity, confidentiality, and the responsible use of AI throughout manuscript preparation, peer review, and editorial decision-making.

1. Scope

This policy applies to generative AI and AI-assisted technologies that create, revise, summarize, translate, organize, analyze, or otherwise produce content. It covers their use by authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff in connection with manuscripts submitted to IJIMS. The policy may be updated as relevant technologies and scholarly publishing standards evolve.

2. Policy for Authors

2.1 Permitted supportive use

Authors may use AI tools in a limited and supportive capacity, provided that appropriate human oversight is maintained. Examples may include:

• improving language, clarity, readability, or organization of text written by the authors;
• assisting with preliminary literature organization, idea development, or manuscript completeness checks;
• supporting translation, coding, data analysis, or the preparation of reproducible data visualizations; and
• preparing explanatory diagrams or schematic illustrations that accurately represent the authors’ own ideas.

Authors must independently review, verify, and revise all AI-assisted output. The final manuscript must reflect the authors’ own analysis, interpretation, conclusions, and original intellectual contribution.

2.2 Author responsibility and verification

Authors remain fully responsible for every part of the submitted and published work, including its accuracy, originality, integrity, and compliance with ethical and legal requirements. Authors must:

• verify all factual statements, calculations, interpretations, quotations, citations, references, and digital object identifiers (DOIs);
• check AI-assisted output for omissions, bias, misleading claims, plagiarism, or fabricated information;
• ensure that confidential, personal, copyrighted, proprietary, or unpublished information is not entered into an AI service unless the authors have confirmed that its terms provide adequate privacy and intellectual-property protection; and
• retain sufficient records of substantive AI use, such as the tool name, version, purpose, prompts or outputs, and the authors’ verification or editing process, when appropriate.

2.3 Disclosure requirement

Any substantive use of generative AI or AI-assisted technology in manuscript preparation must be disclosed in a separate section placed immediately before the References. The declaration should identify the tool or service, explain its purpose, and confirm human review and responsibility. Basic spelling, grammar, and punctuation checks that do not substantively generate or reorganize content do not require disclosure.

Suggested heading: Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in the Manuscript Preparation Process
Suggested statement: During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used [NAME AND VERSION OF TOOL/SERVICE] for [PURPOSE]. The author(s) reviewed, verified, and edited the output as necessary and take(s) full responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and content of the manuscript.

2.4 AI used as part of the research method

When AI is used in the research process—for example, in study design, coding, data collection, data analysis, prediction, or visualization—authors must describe its use in the Methods section in sufficient detail to support evaluation and reproducibility. Where applicable, this description should include the tool or model name, version, developer, inputs, relevant settings, validation procedures, and the extent of human oversight.

2.5 Authorship

AI tools cannot be listed or cited as an author or co-author. Authorship requires human accountability, approval of the final manuscript, agreement to submission, and responsibility for resolving questions concerning the accuracy or integrity of the work.

2.6 Prohibited uses

Authors must not use AI tools to:

• replace the authors’ genuine intellectual contribution, scientific reasoning, or critical interpretation;
• fabricate, manipulate, or misrepresent data, methods, results, images, citations, references, participants, or ethical approvals;
• generate or alter primary research images in a manner that misrepresents what was directly observed or measured;
• create data visualizations that are not faithfully derived from the underlying data through reproducible procedures; or
• infringe copyright, privacy, confidentiality, intellectual-property rights, or other third-party rights.

2.7 Figures, images, and artwork

AI-assisted explanatory figures may be accepted when they accurately illustrate the authors’ own concepts and their use is disclosed both in the figure caption and in the manuscript’s AI declaration. AI-assisted data visualizations are permitted only when directly derived from the underlying data using reproducible methods, which must be described in the Methods section. AI must not be used to fabricate or deceptively modify research data or primary research images. Authors are responsible for accuracy, originality, licensing, attribution, and all necessary permissions.

3. Policy for Reviewers

Submitted manuscripts and related materials are confidential. Reviewers must not upload a manuscript, any portion of it, supplementary files, author information, or unpublished findings to a public or external generative AI service. Reviewers may use AI only for limited support that does not disclose confidential manuscript content, such as improving the language or organization of a review drafted by the reviewer or conducting a general background literature search.

AI must not replace the reviewer’s independent evaluation, critical judgment, or recommendation. Reviewers remain fully accountable for the accuracy, fairness, originality, and content of their reports. Any substantive AI assistance used in preparing a review report must be disclosed to the editor; basic spelling, grammar, and punctuation checks need not be disclosed.

Suggested reviewer disclosure: During the preparation of this review, I used [NAME AND VERSION OF TOOL/SERVICE] for [PURPOSE]. I reviewed and edited the output and take full responsibility for my critical assessment and comments.

4. Policy for Editors and Editorial Staff

Editors and editorial staff must treat submitted manuscripts and related communications as confidential. They must not upload a manuscript, any portion of it, supplementary files, author identities, reviewer reports, or unpublished findings to a public or external generative AI service.

AI tools may be used only in a supportive capacity that does not disclose confidential manuscript content, such as improving the language or structure of an independently prepared editorial communication or supporting a general background search. AI must not make or replace editorial judgments, reviewer assessments, or final decisions. The assigned editor remains fully responsible for the evaluation process, the final decision, and all communications to authors and reviewers.

5. Non-Compliance

Failure to disclose substantive AI use, the submission of fabricated or unverifiable material, a breach of confidentiality, or any use of AI that compromises research or publication integrity may result in editorial action. Depending on the stage and seriousness of the matter, IJIMS may request clarification or supporting records, require correction, reject the manuscript, withdraw an editorial decision, publish a correction or retraction, or take other action consistent with accepted publication-ethics practices.

6. Effective Date and Review

This policy is effective upon publication on the IJIMS website and applies to new submissions and ongoing editorial processes from that date. IJIMS will review and revise the policy periodically in response to technological developments and evolving standards in scholarly publishing.

Reference Basis

This IJIMS policy was developed with reference to Elsevier’s “Generative AI policies for journals” (updated June 2026), while adapting the principles to IJIMS’s editorial context. Source: https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies-and-standards/generative-ai-policies-for-journals