Generative AI policies

The rise of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies has prompted the implementation of new policies that aim to enhance transparency and provide clear guidance for authors, reviewers, editors, readers, and contributors. ICIREMS will monitor these developments and adjust or refine the policies as necessary.

For Authors

The use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in scientific writing

This policy pertains solely to the writing process and does not apply to the use of AI tools for analyzing or deriving insights from data during the research process.

When authors utilize generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in their writing process, these tools should be used solely to enhance the readability and language of their work. The application of these technologies must involve human oversight and control, and authors should thoroughly review and edit the generated content. This is important because AI can produce output that sounds authoritative but may be incorrect, incomplete, or biased. Ultimately, authors hold full responsibility and accountability for the content of their work.

Authors must disclose in their manuscripts any use of AI and AI-assisted technologies. A statement acknowledging this will be included in the published work. This disclosure promotes transparency and trust among authors, readers, reviewers, editors, and contributors, and ensures compliance with the terms of use for the relevant tools or technologies.

Authors should not list AI or AI-assisted technologies as authors or co-authors, nor should they cite AI as an author. Authorship carries responsibilities and tasks that can only be assigned to and performed by humans. Each co-author is accountable for ensuring that any questions regarding the accuracy or integrity of the work are properly investigated and addressed. Additionally, authorship requires the ability to approve the final version of the work and agree to its submission.

Authors are responsible for ensuring the originality of the work, confirming that the listed contributors qualify for authorship, and guaranteeing that the work does not infringe on third-party rights. It is important for authors to familiarize themselves with our Ethics in Publishing policy before submitting their work.

The use of generative AI and AI-assisted tools in figures, images and artwork

We do not allow the use of generative AI or AI-assisted tools to create or modify images in submitted manuscripts. This includes actions such as enhancing, obscuring, moving, removing, or adding specific features within an image or figure. Adjustments to brightness, contrast, or color balance are acceptable as long as they do not obscure or eliminate any information present in the original image. We may use image forensics tools or specialized software to identify any suspected irregularities in the images of submitted manuscripts.

The only exception to the use of AI or AI-assisted tools in research is when such tools are integral to the research design or methodology. For example, this includes AI-assisted imaging techniques that generate or interpret underlying research data, particularly in fields like biomedical imaging. In these cases, the use of AI tools must be clearly described in a reproducible manner within the methods section.

This description should include:

1. How the AI or AI-assisted tools were utilized in the process of image creation or alteration.

2. The name of the specific model or tool used, along with its version and extension numbers, and the manufacturer’s details.

Authors must also comply with the specific usage policies of the AI software and ensure proper attribution of content. If applicable, authors may be required to provide pre-AI-adjusted versions of images and/or the composite raw images used to create the final submitted versions for editorial review.

The use of generative AI or AI-assisted tools for creating artwork, such as graphical abstracts, is not allowed. However, the use of generative AI for cover art may be permitted in certain cases, provided that the author obtains prior approval from the journal editor and ICIREMS. The author must also demonstrate that all necessary rights for using the relevant material have been cleared and ensure that proper content attribution is provided.

For Reviewers

The application of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the journal peer review process.

When a researcher is asked to review another researcher’s paper, the manuscript must be treated as a confidential document. Reviewers should not upload any part of the submitted manuscript into a generative AI tool, as doing so may violate the authors’ confidentiality and proprietary rights. Additionally, if the paper contains personally identifiable information, uploading it could breach data privacy rights.

The confidentiality requirement applies to the peer review report, as it may contain sensitive information about the manuscript and its authors. Therefore, reviewers should avoid uploading their peer review reports into any AI tools, even if their intention is solely to enhance language and readability.

Peer review is a fundamental aspect of the scientific ecosystem, and ICIREMS upholds the highest standards of integrity in this process. Reviewing a scientific manuscript carries responsibilities that can only be managed by humans. Generative AI or AI-assisted technologies should not be used by reviewers when assessing a paper, as the critical thinking and original judgment required for peer review exceed the capabilities of these technologies. There is a risk that such tools may produce incorrect, incomplete, or biased conclusions about the manuscript. Ultimately, the reviewer is responsible and accountable for the content of their review report.

ICIREMS’s AI author policy allows authors to use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies during the writing process before submission. This use is permitted solely to enhance the language and readability of their papers, provided that authors make the appropriate disclosures as outlined in ICIREMS’s Guide for Authors. Reviewers can find this disclosure at the bottom of the paper, in a separate section located before the list of references.

Please note that ICIREMS possesses identity-protected, AI-assisted technologies that adhere to Responsible AI Principles. These technologies are utilized during the screening process to conduct checks for completeness and plagiarism, as well as to identify suitable reviewers. Our in-house or licensed technologies ensure author confidentiality. Additionally, our programs undergo rigorous evaluations to assess bias and comply with data privacy and security requirements.

ICIREMS adopts new AI-driven technologies that assist reviewers and editors in the editorial process. We are committed to developing and using technologies, either in-house or through licensing, that uphold authors’, reviewers’, and editors’ confidentiality and data privacy rights.

For Editors

The use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the editorial process of journals.

A submitted manuscript must be considered a confidential document. Editors should not upload a submitted manuscript or any portion of it to a generative AI tool, as this may violate the authors’ confidentiality and proprietary rights. Additionally, if the manuscript contains personally identifiable information, such actions may breach data privacy rights.

The requirement for confidentiality applies to all communications regarding the manuscript, including notification and decision letters, as they may contain sensitive information about the manuscript and/or the authors. Therefore, editors should refrain from uploading these letters into any AI tools, even for the purpose of improving language and readability.

Peer review is fundamental to the scientific ecosystem, and ICIREMS adheres to the highest standards of integrity in this process. Managing the editorial evaluation of a scientific manuscript involves responsibilities that can only be handled by humans. Generative AI or AI-assisted technologies should not be used by editors in the evaluation or decision-making process of a manuscript, as the critical thinking and original assessment required for this work are beyond the capabilities of such technology. Additionally, there is a risk that these tools may generate incorrect, incomplete, or biased conclusions about the manuscript. Editors are responsible and accountable for the editorial process, the final decision, and the communication of that decision to the authors.

ICIREMS’s AI author policy allows authors to use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies during the writing process prior to submission. However, this usage is limited to improving the language and readability of their papers, and authors must provide appropriate disclosure according to the instructions in ICIREMS’s Guide for Authors. This disclosure should be located at the bottom of the paper in a separate section before the list of references. If an editor suspects that an author or reviewer has violated our AI policies, they should report this to the publisher.

Please note that ICIREMS owns identity-protected, AI-assisted technologies that align with Responsible AI Principles. These technologies are utilized during the screening process to conduct completeness and plagiarism checks, as well as to identify suitable reviewers. Our in-house and licensed technologies prioritize author confidentiality.

We are committed to a thorough evaluation of bias in our programs and ensure compliance with data privacy and security requirements. ICIREMS embraces new AI-driven technologies that assist reviewers and editors in the editorial process. We are dedicated to developing and adopting in-house and licensed technologies that uphold the confidentiality and data privacy rights of authors, reviewers, and editors.