Framework policy for the use of content generators in the publications of the UKSW Scientific Publishing House and journals published by the UKSW

Guidelines for Authors

The policy concerns the use of content generators in the process of writing a scientific text. However, this policy does not cover the use of content generators to analyse and draw conclusions from the data as part of the research process.

If authors use content generators or other AI-assisted tools in the writing process, these tools should only be used to improve the readability of the text and language of the work. The use of content generators should take place under human supervision, and the authors should carefully check and edit the result, because the content generators may result in statements that sound authoritative, which may be incorrect, incomplete or biased. In the end, it is the authors who are responsible for the content of the work.

Authors should disclose in their manuscript the use of content generators and other AI-assisted tools. The relevant statement in this regard should be included in the publication. This promotes transparency and trust between the authors, readers, reviewers, editors and contributors, and facilitates compliance with the terms of use of the relevant tool.
Authors should not list content generators and other AI-assisted tools as authors or co-authors or cite the content generator as an author. Authorship involves responsibilities and tasks that can be assigned and performer exclusively by people.

Each (co-)author is responsible for ensuring that issues of accuracy or integrity of any part of the work will be investigated and resolved accordingly, and authorship requires the ability to approve the final version of the work and agree to its submission. Authors are also responsible for ensuring that the work is original, so that all the listed authors meet the criteria for authorship and that the work does not violate the rights of third parties. Authors should also read our policy on ethics in publishing before submitting the work.

Content generators or other AI-assisted tools may not be used to create or modify images in the submitted manuscripts. This is because it could result in correcting, moving, deleting or inserting of a particular feature of an image or figure.

Adjustments to brightness, contrast or colour balance are acceptable, as long as they do not interfere with or eliminate the information contained in the original. Forensic tools for image analysis or specialised software can be used in the submitted manuscripts to detect suspicious irregularities in the images.

The only exception is when the use of content generators or other AI-assisted tool is part of a research project or research method (for example, in the case of AI-based approaches in imaging aimed at generating or interpreting research data, as in the field of biomedical imaging). If this is the case, it should be described in the research methods section in a manner enabling reproduction, explaining how AI systems were used in the process of image creation or modification and the model or tool name, version number and manufacturer should be provided. Authors should follow specific rules regarding the use of AI software and ensure the correct assignment of content. If applicable, authors may be asked to provide images used as input data and/or raw composition images used to create the final submitted versions for editorial evaluation.

The use of content generators or other AI-assisted tools in the creation of graphics, such as graphic abstracts, is not allowed. The use of content generators for creating cover illustrations may be allowed in some cases, provided that the author obtains prior approval from the editor and publisher of the journal, provides proof that all necessary rights to use the appropriate material have been obtained and ensures that the content is correctly attributed.

Guidelines for reviewers

Reviewers should not send the content of the submitted manuscript or parts of the manuscript to the generators as input data, as this may violate the author’s confidentiality and proprietary rights and, where the work contains personal data, it may violate data privacy rights. This confidentiality requirement also applies to the review report, as it may contain confidential information about the manuscript and/or authors. For this reason, reviewers should not send their review reports as input data to content generators, even if the aim is to improve language and readability.

Scientific review is a key component of the scientific system. Reviewing a scientific manuscript involves a responsibility that can only be carried out by people. Content generators or other AI-assisted tools should not be used by reviewers to assist in the scientific evaluation of the work, as critical thinking and original judgement needed for a scientific peer review go beyond the scope of these tools, and there is a risk that the results returned by the tools will contain incorrect, incomplete or biased conclusions about the manuscript. The reviewer is responsible for the content of the review report.

Guidelines for editors

The submitted manuscript must be treated as a confidential document. Editors should not submit the manuscript or parts of it as input data to content generators, as this may violate the confidentiality and proprietary rights of the authors, and where the work contains personal data, it may violate data privacy rights.