🤖 AI Usage Policy
GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences (GSCBPS) recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are increasingly used to assist researchers during manuscript preparation, language editing, literature organization, data analysis, and other research-related activities. While these technologies can improve efficiency, they do not replace the intellectual responsibility, scientific judgment, ethical accountability, or authorship obligations of human researchers.
This AI Usage Policy provides guidance for authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial board members regarding the appropriate and responsible use of artificial intelligence tools throughout the research publication process. The policy aims to promote transparency, maintain research integrity, protect confidential information, and preserve confidence in the scientific record.
All individuals participating in the editorial and publication process are expected to comply with this policy together with the journal's Publication Ethics, Authorship Policy, and other editorial policies.
📖 Purpose of This Policy
Artificial intelligence technologies continue to evolve rapidly and are becoming widely available to researchers. This policy establishes clear expectations regarding the acceptable use of AI-assisted technologies while ensuring that scientific publications remain accurate, transparent, reproducible, and ethically produced.
The objectives of this policy are to:
- ✅ Promote transparency regarding AI-assisted manuscript preparation.
- ✅ Preserve scientific integrity and publication ethics.
- ✅ Clarify the responsibilities of authors, reviewers, and editors.
- ✅ Protect confidential manuscript information.
- ✅ Encourage responsible and ethical use of AI technologies.
- ✅ Maintain confidence in published scientific research.
🤖 What is Artificial Intelligence?
For the purposes of this policy, artificial intelligence refers to software systems capable of generating, analyzing, summarizing, translating, editing, or otherwise assisting with scientific content using machine learning, large language models, or similar computational technologies.
Examples may include AI-powered writing assistants, language editing tools, image analysis software, statistical assistants, programming assistants, literature summarization tools, and other AI-supported research applications.
✅ Acceptable Uses of AI
GSCBPS recognizes that AI technologies may assist researchers in performing certain tasks during manuscript preparation. Appropriate uses may include:
- 📝 Improving grammar, spelling, punctuation, and language clarity.
- 🌍 Assisting with translation and language refinement.
- 📚 Organizing references or literature summaries.
- 📊 Supporting statistical programming or computational analysis.
- 💻 Assisting with software development and programming code.
- 📈 Data visualization and graphical presentation.
- 🔍 Improving document formatting and manuscript organization.
Regardless of the assistance provided by AI technologies, authors remain fully responsible for verifying the accuracy, originality, completeness, and integrity of every part of the submitted manuscript.
🚫 Unacceptable Uses of AI
Artificial intelligence should not be used in ways that compromise scientific integrity or misrepresent authorship.
Examples of unacceptable use include:
- ❌ Fabricating research data, results, references, or citations.
- ❌ Generating false experimental findings.
- ❌ Creating misleading images, figures, or graphical results without appropriate disclosure.
- ❌ Manipulating scientific evidence.
- ❌ Plagiarizing published work using AI technologies.
- ❌ Submitting AI-generated content without appropriate human verification.
- ❌ Circumventing ethical review or publication standards.
Any use of AI that results in research misconduct or violates the journal's publication ethics policies may result in editorial action.
👨🔬 Responsibility of Authors
Authors remain entirely responsible for every aspect of the submitted manuscript regardless of whether AI technologies were used during its preparation. AI systems cannot assume responsibility for scientific accuracy, research integrity, ethical compliance, or publication accountability.
Before submission, authors should ensure that:
- ✅ All scientific statements have been independently verified.
- ✅ References and citations are accurate.
- ✅ Data, tables, and figures are authentic.
- ✅ AI-generated content has been carefully reviewed and corrected where necessary.
- ✅ Confidential information has not been disclosed to unauthorized AI systems.
- ✅ Any significant AI assistance has been disclosed appropriately.
📝 Disclosure of AI Assistance
GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences (GSCBPS) encourages transparency regarding the use of artificial intelligence during manuscript preparation. Authors should disclose the use of AI technologies whenever such tools have made a substantial contribution to manuscript development, language editing, data presentation, image generation, or other aspects of the submitted work.
Appropriate disclosure allows editors, reviewers, and readers to understand how AI technologies were used while maintaining confidence in the integrity of the published research.
Examples of activities that should normally be disclosed include:
- 📝 AI-assisted drafting of manuscript text.
- 🌍 AI-assisted translation or extensive language editing.
- 📊 AI-generated figures, diagrams, or graphical content.
- 💻 AI-assisted programming or software development used in the study.
- 📈 AI-assisted statistical analysis or computational workflows.
- 📚 AI-generated literature summaries that contributed substantially to manuscript preparation.
📄 Suggested AI Disclosure Statement
Where appropriate, authors may include an AI disclosure statement within the manuscript. For example:
Artificial Intelligence Disclosure: Artificial intelligence technology was used to assist with language editing and manuscript preparation. All scientific content, interpretation of results, conclusions, and final manuscript approval were performed entirely by the authors, who accept full responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the published work.
The Editorial Office may request additional information regarding the use of AI technologies where necessary.
👨⚖️ AI and Authorship
Artificial intelligence systems cannot qualify as authors because they cannot satisfy internationally accepted authorship criteria. AI technologies cannot take responsibility for scientific accuracy, approve manuscripts, respond to reviewer comments, disclose conflicts of interest, or accept accountability for published work.
Accordingly:
- ❌ AI systems must not be listed as authors.
- ❌ AI tools cannot serve as corresponding authors.
- ❌ AI technologies cannot approve manuscript submission.
- ✅ Only human authors may accept responsibility for published research.
🖼️ AI-Generated Images, Figures and Multimedia
Authors should ensure that all images, illustrations, figures, graphs, and multimedia content accurately represent the underlying research. AI-generated visual content should not misrepresent experimental observations or create misleading scientific evidence.
Where AI technologies have been used to generate, modify, or enhance figures beyond routine image processing, authors should disclose this appropriately within the manuscript.
Image manipulation intended to fabricate, falsify, exaggerate, or conceal scientific findings is strictly prohibited.
📊 AI in Data Analysis
Artificial intelligence may assist researchers with data analysis, computational modelling, statistical programming, and predictive analytics. However, authors remain fully responsible for verifying all AI-assisted analyses before submission.
Scientific conclusions should always be based upon independently verified evidence rather than relying solely on AI-generated outputs or automated interpretations.
👨⚕️ AI and Human Participant Research
Authors conducting research involving human participants should exercise particular caution when using AI technologies. Confidential patient information, identifiable personal data, medical records, or other sensitive information should not be submitted to external AI systems unless appropriate legal authority, institutional approval, participant consent, and data protection safeguards are in place.
Authors remain responsible for complying with applicable privacy legislation, institutional policies, ethical approvals, and participant confidentiality requirements.
👨⚖️ AI Use by Reviewers
Peer reviewers play an important role in protecting the confidentiality and integrity of submitted manuscripts. Reviewers should not upload confidential manuscript content, unpublished research data, reviewer reports, or author information into publicly accessible AI systems without explicit authorization from the Editorial Office.
Reviewer reports should represent the reviewer's independent scientific judgment. AI technologies should not replace critical evaluation performed by qualified reviewers.
🏛️ AI Use by Editors
Editors may use AI technologies to support administrative tasks such as language refinement, workflow management, or document organization. However, editorial decisions regarding manuscript acceptance, rejection, revision, ethical investigations, or publication remain the exclusive responsibility of qualified editors.
Editorial decisions are based upon independent scientific assessment, reviewer recommendations, journal policies, and professional editorial judgment rather than automated AI-generated recommendations.
🔐 Confidentiality and Data Protection
Authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff should exercise caution when using AI technologies that process externally submitted information. Confidential manuscripts, unpublished data, reviewer reports, proprietary information, and sensitive research materials should not be disclosed to AI systems where confidentiality cannot be assured.
Maintaining confidentiality throughout the editorial and peer-review process remains a fundamental responsibility of everyone involved in scholarly publishing.
🤖 Artificial Intelligence Supports — But Never Replaces — Scientific Responsibility
Artificial intelligence can improve efficiency during manuscript preparation and research workflows. However, scientific integrity, ethical responsibility, editorial judgment, and accountability for published research always remain the responsibility of human authors, reviewers, and editors.
⚠️ Policy Violations
Failure to comply with this AI Usage Policy may constitute a breach of the journal's Publication Ethics Policy. Where concerns arise regarding inappropriate or undisclosed use of artificial intelligence, GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences (GSCBPS) may investigate the matter in accordance with established editorial procedures.
Examples of policy violations include:
- ❌ Failure to disclose substantial AI assistance where disclosure is appropriate.
- ❌ Fabrication or falsification of research data using AI technologies.
- ❌ Generation of fictitious references, citations, datasets, or experimental results.
- ❌ Submission of AI-generated scientific content without adequate human verification.
- ❌ Listing an AI system as an author or corresponding author.
- ❌ Uploading confidential manuscripts or reviewer reports to unauthorized AI platforms.
- ❌ Using AI to manipulate scientific images or research findings in a misleading manner.
- ❌ Misrepresenting AI-generated content as entirely human-generated scholarly work.
Where necessary, the journal may suspend editorial assessment, reject a manuscript, request corrections, publish an Expression of Concern, retract a published article, or notify the relevant institution or funding organization in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics Policy.
📋 AI Compliance Checklist for Authors
Before submitting a manuscript, authors should ensure that the following requirements have been satisfied:
| Requirement | Status |
|---|---|
| Scientific content has been reviewed and verified by the authors. | ✅ |
| References, citations, and factual statements have been independently checked. | ✅ |
| Research data and conclusions are based on genuine scientific evidence. | ✅ |
| AI assistance has been disclosed where appropriate. | ✅ |
| No AI system has been listed as an author. | ✅ |
| Confidential information has not been submitted to unauthorized AI platforms. | ✅ |
| Images, figures, and multimedia accurately represent the research. | ✅ |
| All authors have approved the final submitted manuscript. | ✅ |
🔗 Related Editorial Policies
Authors are encouraged to review the following editorial policies before submitting their manuscripts:
- 📖 Author Guidelines
- 👥 Authorship Policy
- 📂 Author Self-Archiving Policy
- 📊 Data Sharing Policy
- ⚖️ Publication Ethics
- 🛡️ Plagiarism Policy
- 👨⚖️ Editorial Screening & Peer Review Process
- 🌐 Open Access Policy
- 📤 Submit Manuscript
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use AI to improve the language of my manuscript?
Yes. AI-assisted language editing, grammar correction, translation, and formatting may be used responsibly. However, authors remain fully responsible for verifying the accuracy and integrity of the manuscript.
Do I need to disclose the use of AI?
Authors should disclose the use of AI technologies whenever they have made a substantial contribution to manuscript preparation, language editing, data presentation, image generation, or other significant aspects of the work.
Can ChatGPT or another AI system be listed as an author?
No. Artificial intelligence systems cannot satisfy authorship criteria because they cannot assume responsibility, approve manuscripts, disclose conflicts of interest, or accept accountability for published research.
Can AI generate research data or experimental results?
No. AI must not be used to fabricate, falsify, or manipulate research findings, datasets, references, or scientific conclusions. All published results must be supported by genuine research evidence.
May reviewers use AI to review manuscripts?
Reviewers should exercise caution when using AI technologies. Confidential manuscript content, reviewer reports, and unpublished research should not be uploaded to external AI systems without authorization from the Editorial Office.
Can editors rely entirely on AI when making publication decisions?
No. Editorial decisions are made exclusively by qualified editors based on independent scientific evaluation, reviewer recommendations, journal policies, and professional editorial judgment.
Can AI be used to create scientific figures?
AI-assisted figure preparation may be acceptable in appropriate circumstances provided the resulting images accurately represent the underlying research and any substantial AI assistance is disclosed. Images must never misrepresent scientific findings.