Using AI tools

Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools for Authors and Reviewers

1. Purpose

The journal Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI), including generative AI technologies, may serve as valuable tools in the preparation of scholarly manuscripts. The journal permits the use of such tools provided that their use is transparent, does not compromise scientific integrity, and does not diminish the authors’ full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the submitted work.

AI tools may assist with editorial, linguistic, and technical aspects of manuscript preparation. However, they must not replace the intellectual contribution of the authors or be used to generate original scientific findings or scholarly interpretations.

2. Policy for Authors

Acceptable Use of AI

Authors may use AI tools for purposes including, but not limited to:

  • language editing and stylistic refinement;
  • improving grammar, clarity, and readability;
  • translation of manuscript content;
  • organizing or structuring the manuscript;
  • drafting abstracts, titles, or keywords;
  • supporting literature searches;
  • generating or optimizing computer code;
  • assisting in data processing or data analysis, provided that all outputs are carefully verified by the authors;
  • creating figures, diagrams, or illustrations, provided that copyright regulations and publication ethics are fully respected;
  • other auxiliary tasks, provided that their use is fully disclosed.

Any use of AI tools must be transparently disclosed in an AI Use Statement submitted together with the manuscript.

Unacceptable Use of AI

AI tools must not be used to:

  • generate review articles or substantial parts of manuscripts in place of the authors’ independent critical analysis and synthesis of the scientific literature;
  • generate research data, experimental results, observations, analyses, or other findings that are presented as genuine research outcomes;
  • fabricate, manipulate, or falsify data, references, citations, or research results.

Author Responsibility

Authors retain full responsibility for:

  • the scientific accuracy and integrity of all content;
  • the validity of research data and findings;
  • the accuracy and authenticity of all references and citations;
  • compliance with the journal’s publication ethics policies.

AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of a manuscript because they do not meet internationally recognized criteria for authorship, including accountability for the published work.

3. Policy for Reviewers

Reviewers may use AI tools only in a limited capacity to support the editorial preparation of peer-review reports, for example, for:

  • improving language quality;
  • stylistic editing;
  • organizing editorial comments.

AI tools must not replace the reviewer’s independent scientific judgment.

In particular, reviewers must not:

  • use AI to generate all or substantial portions of a peer-review report;
  • rely on AI to assess the scientific quality, originality, methodological rigor, or suitability of a manuscript for publication;
  • upload confidential manuscript content to publicly accessible AI systems in a manner that could compromise the confidentiality of the peer-review process.

Reviewers remain fully responsible for the content and conclusions of their reviews.

4. Disclosure of AI Use

Authors are required to disclose any significant use of AI tools by providing an AI Use Statement that includes, at a minimum:

  • the name of the AI tool;
  • the version (where applicable);
  • the purpose of its use;
  • the extent of its use during manuscript preparation.

Failure to disclose material use of AI may constitute a breach of the journal’s publication ethics and may result in editorial action.

5. Final Provisions

The Editorial Office reserves the right to request additional information regarding the use of AI tools during manuscript preparation. Where misuse or undisclosed use of AI is identified, the Editorial Office may take appropriate actions in accordance with the journal’s publication ethics policies and internationally accepted ethical standards.

This policy aims to promote the responsible and transparent use of artificial intelligence while maintaining the highest standards of scientific integrity, research transparency, academic accountability, and publication ethics.