Usage Guidelines for Generative AI Tools
Generative AI(GenAI)tools have brought significant convenience to academic research and paper writing. However, while enjoying the benefits of technology, authors must assume corresponding ethical responsibilities to ensure the authenticity, accuracy, and originality of the generated content. Transparently disclosing the use of these tools and adhering strictly to academic standards is key to avoiding ethical risks and ensuring publication quality.
Statement on the Ethical Use and Publication Guidelines for Authors Using Generative AI (GenAI) Tools
Authors should befully responsible forthe content in their manuscripts. If themanuscript contains content generated byAI tools, the author must be held accountablefor any violations of publishing ethics arising therefrom. To ensure compliance with ethical standards in academic publishing,we providethe following guidelines for the use of GenAI tools:
1.Language and Format Editing: Authorsare allowed touse GenAI tools (such as GPT and Grammarly) to improve the spelling, grammar, and general formatting ofmanuscripts. However, GenAI tools may introduce new grammatical errors, logical issues, or content biases. Therefore, after using these tools, authors must carefully review and edit the generated content to ensure accuracy and consistency.
2.Review of Content Accuracy and Originality:For content generated with the assistance of GenAI tools (such as paragraphs, citations, and abstracts), authors mustcarefully check the accuracy of the generated content, including the authenticity of references, correctness of formatting, and consistency of data. Additionally, authors must confirm that the generated content does notincur plagiarism issues to avoid copyright infringement, and plagiarism detection tools should be used to further verify the originality of any AI-generated content.
3.Review of Charts and Data:Authorsusing GenAI tools to generate charts or other scientific artworkmust ensure thatthe visualized presentation of dataaccurately reflects the real data provided in the manuscript. AI-generatedartwork may present risks such as unclear data labelling, misleading design, or data manipulation; therefore, manual review ofAI-generated artwork isrequired.
4.Transparency and Disclosure of Tool Usage: Authors using GenAI tools in manuscript writing, image or graphic element creation, data collection, and analysis must ensure content accuracy andmeanwhile disclose the specific usage of these tools in the Methodology or Acknowledgement sections of the manuscript. The disclosure shouldspecify the tool’s name, version, functionality, and specific application in themanuscript. For example,authors shouldclearly state how the toolhascontributed to spelling correction, data analysis, or image processing.
5.Prohibition of Data Synthesis and Manipulation:GenAI tools must not be used to synthesize data tomake up for missing data, alter or manipulate original images, charts, or other data in a way that affects the presentation of the original data and research results. Any behavior involving the manipulation or fabrication of data generated by AI violates academic integrity and may lead to serious ethical issues.
6.Limitations on the Reasonable Use of GenAI Tools: GenAI tools cannot be used to initiate an original research project without human guidance, nor can they be used to complete the entire research process of writing a paper. GenAI tools should only serve as auxiliary tools and cannot replace the author in conducting independent academic research. Additionally, GenAI tools cannot be listed as authors of the paper, as they do not possess the capability to create knowledge or assume academic responsibility. COPE has already provided detailed guidance on this matter, whichis available here:[COPE Position Statement on AI and Authorship](https://publicationethics.org/cope-position-statements/ai-author)