AI Ethics & Procedure

Journal of Data Science and Informatics Engineering (JoDSIE) supports responsible, transparent, and ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) in scholarly publishing.

AI tools may assist scholarly work, but they do not replace authorship, scholarly judgment, editorial responsibility, peer review, or accountability.

1. Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, editorial staff, and other individuals involved in the preparation, evaluation, editing, and publication of manuscripts submitted to or published by JoDSIE.

It applies to generative AI systems, large language models, AI-assisted writing tools, image-generation systems, translation tools, coding assistants, summarization tools, and other AI-based technologies when used in connection with scholarly publishing.

2. Use of AI by Authors

Authors may use AI tools for limited and responsible purposes such as language improvement, grammar checking, translation, formatting assistance, brainstorming, or other supportive activities.

Authors remain fully responsible for the submitted manuscript, including its accuracy, originality, interpretation, references, conclusions, and compliance with ethical standards.

AI-generated content must not be presented as independently verified scholarly work when it has not been adequately checked by the authors.

3. Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose substantive use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in manuscript preparation when such use goes beyond routine spelling, grammar, or formatting assistance.

The disclosure should identify:

• The AI tool or system used.
• The purpose and extent of its use.
• The sections or components of the manuscript affected, where relevant.
• The steps taken by the authors to verify and revise the output.

The disclosure should be placed in an appropriate section of the manuscript, such as an AI Use Disclosure, Acknowledgements, or other relevant section, according to the nature of the AI use.

4. AI Cannot Be an Author

Artificial intelligence tools cannot be listed as authors, co-authors, or contributors who are assigned authorship.

Authorship requires human responsibility for the work. Authors must satisfy the journal's authorship requirements and remain accountable for the integrity of the manuscript.

5. Verification of AI-Generated Content

Authors must carefully verify all AI-assisted content before submission. Particular attention must be given to:

• Factual accuracy.
• Research findings and interpretations.
• Statistical statements and calculations.
• Technical explanations.
• References and bibliographic information.
• Claims about previous research.
• Copyright and intellectual-property considerations.

Authors are responsible for correcting inaccurate, fabricated, misleading, or unsupported AI-generated content.

6. Fabricated References and Information

AI systems can generate inaccurate or nonexistent references, quotations, data, citations, and factual statements. Authors must independently verify references and other scholarly information before including them in a manuscript.

Fabricated citations, nonexistent references, falsified information, or intentionally misleading AI-generated content may be treated as publication misconduct.

7. AI and Research Data

Authors must not use AI tools in a manner that compromises the confidentiality, privacy, security, or integrity of research data.

Sensitive, confidential, proprietary, personal, unpublished, or restricted research materials should not be entered into external AI systems unless the authors have appropriate authorization and adequate safeguards.

AI tools must not be used to fabricate, manipulate, or selectively alter research data, images, results, or evidence.

8. AI Use by Peer Reviewers

Reviewers must protect the confidentiality of manuscripts and unpublished research.

Reviewers should not upload manuscripts, confidential peer-review materials, unpublished data, or other protected information into generative AI systems when doing so could compromise confidentiality, intellectual property, or the integrity of the review process.

Reviewers remain responsible for the content and judgment of their reviews. AI systems must not replace the reviewer's independent scholarly assessment.

9. AI Use by Editors and Editorial Staff

Editors and editorial staff must protect confidential manuscript, reviewer, author, and editorial information.

AI tools may be used for limited administrative or language-support purposes where appropriate, but editorial decisions must remain based on independent scholarly judgment and the journal's editorial policies.

AI must not be used to make undisclosed or autonomous decisions about acceptance, rejection, reviewer selection, misconduct findings, or other substantive editorial matters.

10. AI-Generated Images, Figures, and Media

Authors must disclose the use of generative AI to create or substantially modify images, figures, illustrations, or other media when such use is relevant to the scholarly work.

AI-generated or AI-modified material must not misrepresent experimental evidence, research results, participants, observations, or scientific data.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that the use of AI-generated media does not infringe copyright, licensing, privacy, or other applicable rights.

11. AI and Plagiarism

Use of AI does not exempt authors from the journal's Plagiarism Policy.

Authors remain responsible for proper attribution and citation of sources. AI-generated text that reproduces or closely imitates copyrighted or previously published material without appropriate attribution may constitute a publication-ethics concern.

Similarity-checking results are considered screening evidence and are evaluated together with the context and originality of the manuscript.

12. Editorial Procedure for Undisclosed or Inappropriate AI Use

If the editorial team identifies potentially undisclosed or inappropriate use of AI, the journal may:

1. Request clarification from the authors.
2. Request disclosure of the AI tool and manner of use.
3. Request revision or correction of the manuscript.
4. Require additional verification of references, data, or claims.
5. Reject the manuscript when the issue materially affects its integrity.
6. Investigate the matter after publication when credible concerns arise.
7. Issue a correction, expression of concern, or retraction when justified.

13. AI Disclosure Statement — Recommended Format

If no substantive generative AI was used, authors may state:

14. Accountability and Editorial Integrity

The use of AI does not transfer responsibility from authors, reviewers, editors, or journal staff to an AI system.

Human participants in the publication process remain responsible for ethical conduct, confidentiality, accuracy, transparency, and the integrity of scholarly communication.

Commitment to Responsible AI

JoDSIE recognizes the potential of artificial intelligence to support scholarly communication while emphasizing that responsible human oversight, transparency, confidentiality, originality, and accountability are essential to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record.

Ethical Framework

This policy is aligned with recognized principles of responsible scholarly publishing and publication ethics, including guidance and transparency principles promoted by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).