Use of AI Tools in Manuscripts

General Principle

Artificial intelligence tools may assist authors with language editing, technical formatting, preliminary summarisation, idea organisation, translation support or other limited preparatory tasks. However, AI tools must not replace scholarly authorship, independent analysis, source verification, ethical responsibility or editorial accountability.

Authors are responsible for all parts of a manuscript submitted under their names, including text, data, references, images, tables, conclusions and any content produced, edited or suggested with the assistance of AI tools.

The use of AI tools must be transparent when it affects manuscript preparation, analysis, interpretation, generated content or presentation of research materials.

Definition of AI Tools

For the purposes of this policy, AI tools include software systems capable of generating, transforming, summarising, translating, analysing, editing or creating text, images, data, code, tables, figures, references or other research-related content through automated or semi-automated processes.

Such tools may include large language models, AI writing assistants, generative image tools, automated translation systems, summarisation tools, data analysis tools, coding assistants, reference-generation tools and other algorithmic systems used during manuscript preparation.

AI Tools Are Not Authors

AI tools, chatbots, language models or other automated systems cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to European Scientific e-Journal. Authorship requires human responsibility, accountability, approval of the submitted work and capacity to respond to editorial questions.

AI tools cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of research, originality of content, accuracy of references, ethical compliance, conflict of interest disclosure, copyright status or post-publication correction.

Permitted Uses of AI Tools

Authors may use AI tools in limited and responsible ways, provided that the use does not compromise originality, accuracy, transparency, confidentiality, copyright, ethical compliance or scholarly integrity.

Permitted uses may include:

• language polishing, grammar correction or style improvement;
• technical editing of non-substantive wording;
• translation support, followed by human verification;
• organisation of notes or preliminary structure;
• formatting assistance for tables, headings or references, followed by verification;
• support in checking clarity, readability or consistency of text;
• technical assistance in coding or data processing, where applicable and disclosed when relevant;
• preliminary summarisation of the author’s own materials, followed by human review.

Uses Requiring Disclosure

Authors should disclose the use of AI tools when such tools contributed materially to the manuscript’s content, analysis, interpretation, text generation, image generation, data processing, coding, translation or presentation of research results.

Disclosure is especially required when AI tools were used to:

• generate substantial manuscript text;
• produce or modify figures, images, diagrams or visual materials;
• analyse or process data used in the manuscript;
• generate code, formulas, statistical outputs or structured analysis;
• summarise literature or source materials in a way that influenced the manuscript;
• translate substantial parts of the manuscript;
• create tables, abstracts, keywords or other publication elements;
• support interpretation of research materials or findings.

Suggested AI Disclosure Statement

When AI tools are used in a way that requires disclosure, authors should provide a concise statement in the manuscript or during submission. The statement should identify the tool, describe the purpose of use and confirm that the authors reviewed and verified the final content.

A disclosure statement may follow this general form:

The Editorial Office may request clarification if the disclosure is incomplete, unclear or inconsistent with the submitted manuscript.

Prohibited Uses of AI Tools

AI tools must not be used in ways that mislead readers, editors, reviewers, indexing services or the academic community. Authors must not present AI-generated content as independent scholarly work unless it has been critically reviewed, verified, properly contextualised and disclosed where required.

Prohibited or unacceptable uses include:

• fabrication of data, sources, quotations, cases, references or research results;
• generation of fake bibliographic references or invented source information;
• presentation of AI-generated analysis as verified empirical research without human validation;
• use of AI-generated text that contains plagiarism, unattributed borrowing or misleading paraphrasing;
• creation or manipulation of images, figures or data in a deceptive manner;
• substitution of AI-generated content for genuine scholarly contribution;
• use of AI tools to conceal plagiarism, duplicate publication or research misconduct;
• submission of manuscripts generated substantially by AI without responsible human authorship.

Verification of AI-assisted Content

Authors must carefully verify all AI-assisted content before submission. AI tools may produce inaccurate statements, fabricated references, misleading summaries, false quotations, incorrect translations, biased outputs or unsupported conclusions.

Authors must check:

• accuracy of factual statements;
• accuracy and existence of references;
• correctness of quotations and source attribution;
• relevance and completeness of literature summaries;
• accuracy of translated terminology;
• integrity of data analysis or coding outputs;
• copyright and permission status of generated or modified images;
• consistency between AI-assisted text and the actual research materials.

AI-generated References and Citations

Authors must not rely on AI tools to generate references without independent verification. All references must correspond to real sources that were actually consulted and used by the authors.

Fabricated references, inaccurate bibliographic details, invented quotations, false DOI numbers, misleading source descriptions or citation of sources not consulted by the authors may be treated as research misconduct or publication misconduct.

AI-generated Images, Figures and Visual Materials

If AI tools are used to generate or modify images, figures, illustrations, diagrams or other visual materials, the authors must disclose this use where relevant and ensure that the materials do not misrepresent research findings, violate copyright, infringe third-party rights or create misleading visual evidence.

AI-generated or AI-modified visual materials must not be used to fabricate empirical evidence, manipulate research results or create false documentation. The Editorial Office may request clarification about the origin and status of visual materials.

AI Use in Data Analysis and Coding

When AI tools are used for data analysis, coding, statistical support, text mining, classification or other analytical tasks, authors should describe the use where it is relevant to the methods, results or interpretation of the study.

Authors remain responsible for verifying the accuracy, reproducibility and appropriateness of AI-assisted analysis. The use of AI tools must not replace methodological transparency or human interpretation.

AI and Translation

AI-based translation tools may be used to assist with manuscript preparation, but authors must review and correct the translated text. Authors are responsible for the accuracy of terminology, quotations, legal or technical meaning, source references and scholarly argumentation in the final version.

If substantial translation assistance was used and materially affected the manuscript, authors should disclose this where appropriate.

AI and Plagiarism

AI-generated or AI-assisted text may still contain plagiarism, close paraphrasing, unattributed borrowing or misleading similarity to existing sources. Authors must ensure that all borrowed ideas, data, arguments, terms, quotations and source materials are properly cited.

The use of AI tools does not exempt authors from the journal’s Plagiarism, Originality and Duplicate Publication Policy.

Confidentiality During Submission

Authors should not upload confidential, unpublished, personal, sensitive or restricted research materials into external AI systems unless they have the right to do so and understand the confidentiality, privacy and data-use implications.

Authors are responsible for protecting confidential research materials, personal data, unpublished sources, third-party documents, reviewer correspondence and other restricted information.

Use of AI Tools by Reviewers

Reviewers must respect the confidentiality of manuscripts submitted for peer review. Reviewers should not upload unpublished manuscripts, manuscript excerpts, figures, data or review materials into external AI tools if this may compromise confidentiality, privacy, intellectual property or journal policy.

Reviewers must not rely on AI tools as a substitute for their own expert judgement. A reviewer who uses AI-assisted tools for limited technical support remains fully responsible for the review report and must ensure that confidentiality is protected.

Use of AI Tools by Editors

Editors must preserve confidentiality and editorial independence when handling manuscripts. AI tools must not be used in ways that disclose confidential manuscript content, compromise peer review, replace editorial judgement or create unfair treatment of authors.

Editorial decisions must be made by responsible human editors on the basis of journal scope, academic quality, originality, ethical compliance, peer review and editorial assessment.

AI Tools and Peer Review Integrity

AI tools must not be used to manipulate peer review, fabricate reviewer reports, generate false reviewer identities, create misleading editorial responses or interfere with the independence of reviewers and editors.

Any attempt to use AI tools to manipulate the review or editorial process may be treated as research misconduct or publication misconduct.

Editorial Assessment of AI Use

The Editorial Office may request clarification about the use of AI tools if the manuscript contains indications of fabricated references, inconsistent terminology, generic or unsupported analysis, image manipulation, unusual text patterns or undisclosed generated content.

Depending on the nature of the issue, the journal may:

• request an AI use disclosure statement;
• request correction of inaccurate or unsupported content;
• request verification of references, quotations, data or images;
• return the manuscript for revision;
• reject the manuscript before or after peer review;
• consider post-publication correction, expression of concern or retraction where required.

Post-publication Concerns

If undisclosed or improper AI use is identified after publication, the Editorial Board may assess the case under this policy and related journal policies. The response may depend on whether the issue affects the accuracy, originality, reliability, copyright status, ethical compliance or scholarly validity of the published article.

Possible post-publication actions may include correction, editorial note, expression of concern, metadata update or retraction where serious misconduct is confirmed.

Relationship with Other Policies

This policy is connected with the journal’s Authors’ Guidelines, Publication Ethics, Peer Review Policy, Plagiarism and Originality Policy, Research Misconduct Policy, Conflicts of Interest Policy, Authorship and Contributorship Policy and Corrections, Retractions and Expressions of Concern Policy.

When AI use affects originality, authorship, data integrity, citation accuracy, confidentiality, peer review or post-publication correction, the Editorial Board may apply the relevant policies together.