Use of AI and AI-Assisted Tools

Use of AI and AI-Assisted Tools

Generative AI and AI-assisted tools (for example large language models) cannot be listed as authors and cannot take responsibility for a work. Authors remain fully responsible and accountable for the content of their manuscript, including text, data, figures and references that were produced or edited with such tools.

Authors must disclose in the manuscript, in a statement placed before the references, any use of AI tools that goes beyond basic spelling and grammar checking. The statement names the tool, its version, and the purpose. AI tools must not be used to fabricate or manipulate data, results, citations or images.

Images, figures or graphical abstracts generated or altered with AI must be clearly labelled as such, and authors must hold the right to publish them.

Reviewers and editors must not upload confidential manuscripts, review reports or decision letters to public AI tools, because this would breach confidentiality. If an AI tool is used in any way to prepare a review, this must be disclosed to the editor. The journal may use similarity-checking and other screening software and does not rely on AI to make editorial decisions.

Use of AI that is not disclosed may be handled as a breach of publication ethics under the Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement.