1. Purpose and Scope
This policy establishes the principles governing the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), including generative AI systems and large language models (LLMs), in the preparation, submission, peer review, editing, and publication of manuscripts.
The policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, editorial staff, and other individuals involved in the journal's publishing process. It is intended to promote transparency, scientific integrity, confidentiality, and accountability in accordance with internationally recognized publication ethics standards.
2. Use of AI by Authors
2.1 Permitted Uses
Authors may use AI-assisted tools for language editing, grammar correction, translation, improving readability, brainstorming, and other legitimate forms of writing assistance, provided that such use does not compromise scientific integrity or replace the authors' intellectual contributions.
AI tools may also assist with coding, data processing, statistical workflows, or the preparation of figures and tables when scientifically appropriate and adequately validated. Such uses must be reported in the relevant sections of the manuscript when they materially contribute to the research methods, analysis, or presentation of results.
2.2 Disclosure Requirements
Authors must disclose the use of AI-assisted technologies that contribute to the preparation or production of the submitted manuscript. The disclosure should identify:
- The name of the AI tool and, where available, its model or version.
- The purpose and scope of its use.
- The relevant parts of the manuscript or research process affected by the tool.
For substantive AI-assisted writing, content generation, data analysis, code generation, or figure creation, the disclosure must be sufficiently detailed to allow readers and editors to understand the tool's contribution.
Routine spelling correction or conventional grammar checking that does not involve generative AI does not require a separate AI declaration under this policy.
2.3 Author Accountability
AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors. All authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, validity, and integrity of the submitted work, including any content generated or modified with AI assistance.
Authors must independently verify factual claims, statistical results, references, quotations, and interpretations. AI-generated references must be checked against reliable primary sources. Authors must not cite AI-generated material as a substitute for the original scientific evidence.
Authors must also ensure that the use of AI does not result in plagiarism, fabricated information, misleading interpretations, inappropriate reproduction of copyrighted material, or breaches of research-participant confidentiality.
2.4 AI in Research Data and Images
AI must not be used to fabricate, falsify, or deceptively manipulate research data, clinical images, microscopy images, radiological images, or other scientific evidence.
Any AI-assisted processing that may affect the interpretation of research data or images must be scientifically justified, transparently reported, and consistent with applicable research and publication standards.
Authors must not upload identifiable patient information, confidential clinical records, or other protected research data to AI services unless the use is appropriately authorized and complies with applicable privacy, ethics, institutional, and data-protection requirements.
3. Use of AI by Reviewers
Reviewers must preserve the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts, supplementary files, research data, and all information obtained during peer review.
Reviewers must not upload manuscripts, unpublished results, figures, tables, or confidential editorial correspondence to public or otherwise unauthorized AI tools.
Reviewers may use AI for limited administrative or language-support purposes only where permitted by the journal and where confidentiality can be assured. AI must not replace the reviewer's independent scientific judgment, critical appraisal, or assessment of methodological validity.
Reviewers remain responsible for the accuracy, fairness, originality, and professionalism of their submitted reviews. They must not rely on AI-generated assessments without independent verification.
Any permitted substantive use of AI in preparing a peer-review report must be disclosed confidentially to the handling editor. Reviewers must follow the journal's instructions and obtain prior editorial authorization when required.
4. Use of AI by Editors and Editorial Staff
Editors and editorial staff may use approved AI-assisted tools for administrative support, language editing, workflow assistance, and other authorized editorial tasks, provided that confidentiality, impartiality, and editorial independence are maintained.
Editors must not upload confidential manuscripts, reviewer reports, author correspondence, or identifying information to AI systems unless the journal has explicitly authorized the use and adequate confidentiality and data-protection safeguards are in place.
AI-generated recommendations must not independently determine editorial decisions. Decisions concerning acceptance, revision, rejection, research integrity, and publication ethics must remain the responsibility of qualified human editors.
Editors must verify AI-generated correspondence, summaries, recommendations, and other editorial content before use. Where AI is used substantively in the editorial process, the journal should maintain appropriate internal records and disclose the use when necessary for transparency.
5. Disclosure Statement in Published Articles
Authors must provide an AI-use declaration during submission. When AI-assisted technologies have been used in preparing or producing the manuscript, the declaration should appear in an appropriate section, such as the Acknowledgments or a dedicated AI Use Declaration section.
If no AI-assisted technologies were used, authors may provide the following statement:
Declaration of AI-Assisted Technologies: The authors declare that no AI-assisted technologies were used in the preparation or production of this manuscript.
If AI-assisted technologies were used for language editing, authors may use the following example, provided it accurately reflects their practice:
Declaration of AI-Assisted Technologies: The authors used [name of tool] to assist with language editing and improving the readability of the manuscript. The authors reviewed and verified all suggested revisions and accept full responsibility for the final content.
For substantive AI-generated content, research analysis, coding, or figure preparation, the declaration must describe the specific use and identify the relevant methodological details. Additional information should be provided in the Methods section when necessary for reproducibility.
6. Compliance and Editorial Action
The journal may request clarification or supporting information regarding the use of AI in a submitted manuscript.
Failure to disclose AI use, unauthorized disclosure of confidential material, fabricated references, or inappropriate AI-assisted manipulation may be addressed under the journal's publication ethics and research integrity procedures.
Any investigation must be proportionate, evidence-based, and consistent with established editorial procedures. The journal will provide authors with an appropriate opportunity to respond before making a decision.
Possible actions include requesting clarification, requiring correction or revision, suspending peer review pending investigation, rejecting a manuscript, or issuing a correction or retraction when warranted by the evidence and applicable publication ethics standards.
The use of AI-detection software alone must not be treated as conclusive evidence of misconduct.
7. Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed periodically to reflect developments in AI technology, research integrity, privacy requirements, and international publication ethics guidance.
The journal reserves the right to update this policy following approval by the editorial board and will communicate substantive changes to authors, reviewers, and editors.
Effective date: October, 15th 2026
Approved by: Dr. Suparmi, S.Si, M.Si (ERT) [Editor-in-Chief]
