Use of AI & Generative AI

Generative artificial intelligence tools, including large language models, are increasingly used in research and writing. Scopapers journals allow their responsible use while safeguarding the accuracy, originality, and accountability of published work. This policy sets out what we expect from authors and reviewers.

AI cannot be an author

Generative AI tools do not qualify as authors. Authorship carries responsibility and accountability for the work, and AI tools cannot take responsibility, cannot approve a manuscript, and cannot manage conflicts of interest. AI tools must therefore never be listed as authors or co-authors, and the human authors remain fully responsible for every part of their manuscript, including any portion produced with the assistance of such tools.

Disclosure by authors

Authors who use generative AI tools in the preparation of a manuscript, for example to draft or edit text, to generate or transform images, or to assist with analysis, must disclose that use. The disclosure should name the tool and describe how it was used, and it is normally placed in the methods or acknowledgements section. Routine assistive tools such as spelling and grammar checkers or reference managers do not require disclosure.

Author responsibility for accuracy

Authors must critically check any content produced with AI assistance. Generative tools can produce text that is plausible but wrong, invent citations, and introduce bias or undisclosed copied material. Authors are responsible for the accuracy of all statements, for the integrity of all data and citations, and for ensuring that the work contains no plagiarism or fabricated references, whatever tools were used to prepare it. AI must not be used to fabricate or falsify data or results.

Images and figures

Authors must not use generative AI to create or manipulate images in ways that misrepresent the research or its findings. Where AI-generated or AI-assisted imagery is used legitimately, it must be clearly disclosed.

Reviewers and confidentiality

Reviewers must keep every manuscript confidential. Uploading a manuscript, in whole or in part, to a generative AI service can breach that confidentiality by disclosing unpublished work to a third party, and reviewers must not do so. Reviewers remain responsible for their assessments and must not delegate their scholarly judgement to an AI tool.

Editorial oversight

Editors may ask authors for further detail about the use of AI tools and may decline or halt consideration of a manuscript where the use of such tools is undisclosed or inconsistent with this policy. Undisclosed or improper use may be treated as misconduct.