AI Policy for Editors

Policy Statement
Editors may use artificial intelligence tools only in ways that protect confidentiality, fairness, editorial independence, and research integrity. Editors must not upload unpublished manuscripts, reviewer reports, author identities in blinded workflows, or confidential editorial information into public AI tools unless approved by the publisher and protected by appropriate confidentiality terms.
Editorial Responsibilities
  • Editors remain responsible for all editorial decisions.
  • AI tools must not replace editor judgment, peer review, or ethics assessment.
  • Editors must consider risks such as bias, hallucination, confidentiality breach, and inaccurate summaries when using AI.
  • Editors should document meaningful AI use when it affects editorial processing or manuscript assessment.
  • Editors should investigate undisclosed or inappropriate AI use according to journal ethics procedures.
Permitted Administrative Use
  • Internal workflow organization without manuscript content disclosure.
  • Template drafting for non-confidential communication.
  • Language improvement of editor-written correspondence after human review.
  • Technical checks using approved systems integrated into the publisher workflow.
Editorial Action for Concerns
  1. Request clarification from authors, reviewers, or editors involved.
  2. Request AI-use disclosure, original data, raw files, code, or documentation when needed.
  3. Consult the Editor-in-Chief or publisher ethics lead for serious concerns.
  4. Apply correction, expression of concern, rejection, or retraction processes where appropriate.