Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

The JINA recognises the growing role of generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and other LLMs) in scholarly writing, data processing, and publication workflows. To maintain transparency, integrity, and ethical standards, all authors, reviewers, and editors must adhere to the standards outlined below: 

A) For Authors

Authors may utilise approved generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot) to improve the clarity, structure, and international readability of their manuscripts. The following conditions must be adhered to ensure scholarly integrity:

Permitted Uses

Authors may use AI tools to:

  • Improve clarity, grammar, spelling, structure, and readability throughout the manuscript
  • Summarise or organise background literature
  • Structure literature reviews or methodology descriptions
  • Enhance communication for an international audience

All such uses must be disclosed.

Prohibited Uses

AI tools must not:

  • Generate core scientific content, fabricate data, manipulate results, or alter images, unless explicitly part of the documented research methodology
  • Be listed as authors or co-authors under any circumstances
  • Replace human scholarly judgment in analysis, interpretation, or conclusions

Undisclosed AI Use in generating substantive manuscript content (e.g., literature reviews, discussion sections, and so on) is prohibited.

AI-Induced Plagiarism must be avoided. Authors should use AI output responsibly and check for inadvertent copying.

Disclosure Requirement

All AI use must be declared in an AI Use Statement in the Acknowledgments section, including:

  • Name and version of the AI tool used
  • Purpose of AI use (e.g., grammar, clarity, data synthesis)
  • Confirmation that all AI-generated content has been reviewed and validated by the authors

For transparency, manuscripts should include a statement such as:
 "During the preparation of this manuscript, the author(s) used [tool name, version] for [purpose]. All output was reviewed and edited by the authors, who take full responsibility for the content of this publication."

“The authors used [AI Tool Name] for [purpose, e.g., grammar checking, summarising background]. The authors take full responsibility for the content and interpretation of the work.”

If no AI tools were used, authors may state:

“No generative AI tools were used in the preparation of this manuscript.”

Author Responsibility

Authors remain fully responsible for:

  • Accuracy, originality, and integrity of all content, data, and analyses.
  • Human Oversight: Authors are solely responsible for all content, ensuring the accuracy, originality, and ethical integrity of AI-generated or AI-assisted outputs.
  • Validity of citations, references, DOIs, and metadata.
  • Ethical compliance with plagiarism, image manipulation, and intellectual property policies.
  • Ensuring AI use does not compromise the integrity of the research.

Citation and Reference Verification [Mandatory]

Authors must manually verify every reference to ensure:

  • Correct author names, titles, years, volumes, issues, and pages
  • Active and valid URLs, DOIs, or permanent repository links
  • Consistency between in-text citations and reference list
  • Authors must check references one by one before submission.
  • Correct metadata for formatting for indexing and archiving

B) For Reviewers

Manuscripts submitted to JINA are confidential documents and must not be uploaded to any AI system that stores, retains, or trains on user data. Reviewers may use AI tools only for limited administrative purposes, such as organising notes, improving the clarity of their writing, or drafting routine correspondence. AI must not be used to evaluate the scientific merit of a manuscript or generate review reports.

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Maintain the confidentiality and integrity of all manuscripts under review.
  • Ensure that all evaluative comments and recommendations are based solely on their own independent scholarly judgment.
  • Verify that any AI-assisted text is accurate, appropriately revised, and reflects their own assessment.
  • Report any suspected misuse of AI in a manuscript to the Editor.
  • Remain fully responsible for the content and recommendations of their peer-review report.

All peer-review reports submitted to JINA must be original, human-written, and ethically grounded.

C) For Editors

Editors may use generative AI tools to support administrative and editorial tasks, such as drafting correspondence, organising editorial workflows, and conducting preliminary language or formatting checks. However, AI must never replace human editorial judgment. All decisions regarding manuscript evaluation, peer review, acceptance, revision, or rejection remain the sole responsibility of the Editor. Editors must also ensure that confidential manuscripts and review materials are not uploaded to AI systems that retain or use submitted content for training.

Editors are expected to:

  • Make all editorial decisions independently, fairly, and in accordance with the journal's editorial policies and ethical standards.
  • Protect the confidentiality of manuscripts and the integrity of the peer-review process.
  • Detect and report any suspected misuse of AI by authors or reviewers.
  • Maintain editorial independence and comply with COPE and internationally accepted publication ethics.
  • Ensure that AI is used only as a supportive tool and never as a substitute for scholarly or editorial judgment.

 

Note: The use of AI throughout the publication process must be transparent, ethical, and appropriately disclosed. AI may support scholarly communication but cannot replace human expertise, critical thinking, or accountability. Authors, reviewers, and editors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of their work. Failure to comply with this policy may result in editorial action, including manuscript rejection, correction, or retraction, in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policies.