IJEMR recognises that generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies may support research and writing when used responsibly. This policy promotes transparency, accountability, originality, confidentiality and research integrity.
“Generative AI” includes tools that generate or transform text, images, audio, video, code or synthetic data.
Generative AI tools must not be listed as an author or co-author. Authorship requires human responsibility, approval of the final manuscript, disclosure of competing interests and accountability for the integrity of the work.
All human authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, citations, permissions, ethics, data and conclusions in their manuscript.
Authors may use AI tools for limited support, such as language improvement, grammar, readability, translation, coding assistance, data analysis or research workflow support, provided that such use does not compromise confidentiality, rights or research integrity.
Authors must carefully review and edit all AI-assisted output. AI-generated content may be inaccurate, biased, incomplete, fabricated or insufficiently attributed. Authors must independently verify all facts, data, quotations, references and permissions.
Authors must disclose any material use of generative AI or AI-assisted tools in the manuscript.
The disclosure should appear before the References section under the heading:
Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies
Example:
During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [tool name] for [purpose, e.g., language editing / coding assistance / data analysis]. The authors reviewed and edited all output and take full responsibility for the content of this publication.
Routine spelling, grammar and reference-formatting tools do not normally require disclosure unless they generate substantive content.
Where AI is used in research design, data collection, coding, data analysis or creation of images, authors must describe the tool, version, settings, inputs, validation process and limitations in the Methods section.
Authors must not use AI tools to:
fabricate, falsify or manipulate data, results, images, citations or references;
generate false participant information, interview material or research findings;
create misleading or deceptive figures, images or visual evidence;
conceal plagiarism or evade originality checks;
upload confidential participant, personal, institutional or third-party information without lawful authority; or
replace the authors’ own scholarly analysis, interpretation and accountability.
AI-generated images, figures or artwork may be considered only where their use is clearly disclosed, does not misrepresent research evidence and does not infringe third-party rights.
Reviewers must treat submitted manuscripts and review communications as confidential.
Reviewers must not upload a manuscript, excerpts, supplementary files, reviewer forms, editorial correspondence or any confidential information into public or unapproved AI tools.
AI tools must not replace the reviewer’s independent critical assessment. Reviewers remain fully responsible for the content, accuracy and fairness of their reports.
Where a reviewer uses an approved AI tool solely to improve the language or structure of a review, this must be disclosed to the Editor and must not involve sharing confidential manuscript content.
Editors and editorial staff must not upload submitted manuscripts, reviewer reports, author identities, editorial correspondence or confidential information into public or unapproved AI tools.
AI may be used only for administrative or production support where confidentiality, data protection, intellectual-property rights and human editorial oversight are assured.
AI must not make final editorial decisions, select reviewers without human oversight, determine acceptance or rejection, or replace independent editorial judgement.
IJEMR may ask authors to provide further information about AI use, including tool name, version, prompts, inputs, outputs, validation steps and safeguards used.
Failure to disclose material AI use, or use of AI in a manner that breaches this policy, may result in rejection, correction, expression of concern, retraction or referral to the relevant institution.
AI technologies and related standards change rapidly. IJEMR will review and update this policy as necessary.
