Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Manuscript Preparation

Introduction
The International Journal of Data Science (IJoDS) recognizes the growing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in academic research and manuscript preparation. This policy provides guidelines for authors on the acceptable use and transparent disclosure of AI technologies in the creation of their submissions.

Description
AI tools, including natural language processing (NLP) models and machine learning (ML) algorithms, are increasingly used for tasks such as literature searching, data analysis, image generation, language editing, and text generation. While these tools can enhance research efficiency and quality, their use must be responsible and transparent to maintain the integrity of scholarly work.

The Policy

  • AI Cannot Be an Author: AI tools, such as large language models (LLMs) or chatbots, do not meet IJoDS's criteria for authorship. They cannot take responsibility for the submitted work, approve the final version, or be accountable for its accuracy and integrity. Therefore, AI tools should not be listed as authors or co-authors.
  • Disclosure of AI Use: Authors must transparently disclose the use of AI tools in the preparation of their manuscript, particularly for tasks that contribute to the intellectual content or generation of text, figures, or data.
    • If AI tools were used for significant aspects of manuscript writing, data analysis, image creation, or literature review, this must be described in the Methods section or a dedicated section of the manuscript.
    • Authors should provide the specific AI tool used (including name and version) along with a brief description of how they applied it.
  • Author Responsibility: Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of all content in their manuscript, including any parts generated or assisted by AI. This includes responsibility for:
    • Fact-checking and verifying any information or data generated by AI.
    • It is crucial to ensure that any text generated by AI is free from plagiarism and appropriately attributed if it draws from existing sources.
    • It is crucial to ensure that the figures or data generated by AI accurately reflect the research.
    • We must prevent the creation of content that is misleading or biased.
  • Originality: Manuscripts must be the authors' own original work. We discourage extensive reliance on AI for text generation that replaces original thought and critical analysis by human authors.
  • Bias and Ethics: Authors should be mindful of potential biases in AI algorithms and the data they were trained on and strive to mitigate any harmful biases in their research or manuscript. If applicable, authors should also address ethical considerations regarding the data they use to train AI models or the data AI generates.
  • Reproducibility: If AI tools are integral to the research methodology (e.g., for data analysis or model development), their use should be described in sufficient detail to allow for reproducibility by others. This process may include specifying the model, parameters, and datasets used.

Implementation of the Policy

  • Disclosure Statement: Authors must include a statement in their submitted manuscript (e.g., in the Methods section or an "AI in Manuscript Preparation" section) detailing the use of any AI tools that significantly contributed to the manuscript's content or preparation. If the journal requires such a declaration, the authors should also state that they did not use any AI tools in this capacity.
    • Example Disclosure: "During the preparation of this work, the authors used [NAME OF AI TOOL AND VERSION] for [REASON FOR USE, e.g., improving language and readability, literature search, generating initial draft sections]. After using this tool, the authors reviewed and edited the content as needed and take full responsibility for the content of the publication."
  • Reviewer and Editor Awareness: Editors and reviewers will be made aware of this policy. We may ask reviewers to consider whether the use of AI has impacted the quality or integrity of the manuscript.
  • Ethical Review: The ethical implications of AI use in research, if significant, may be subject to scrutiny during the peer review process.
  • Guidance for Authors: IJoDS provides this policy on its website (https://ijods.org/) to guide authors.
  • Updates to Policy: We will review and update this policy as AI technologies and best practices evolve, taking into account guidance from relevant ethical bodies.