This page serves as a reference for authors, editors, and reviewers, outlining the journal's commitment to upholding COPE's principles and standards.

The publication of an article in a peer-reviewed journal is an essential building block in the development of a coherent and respected network of knowledge. It is a direct reflection of the quality of the work of the authors and the institutions that support them. Peer-reviewed articles support and embody the scientific method. It is therefore important to agree upon standards of expected ethical behaviour for all parties involved in the act of publishing: the author, the journal editor, the peer reviewer, the publisher and the society of society-owned or sponsored journals.

Editorial Independence and Integrity:
Our journal is committed to maintaining editorial independence and upholding the highest standards of integrity. We adhere to COPE's guidelines by ensuring that editorial decisions are based on the merit of the research and not influenced by commercial, political, or personal interests.

Publisher’s Responsibilities: The AITA is committed to the highest ethical and transparent publishing principles and guarantees full integrity and professionalism in all its editorial processes. AITA endorses the COPE's principles and standards. and has a zero-tolerance policy regarding plagiarism, fraudulent publication and scientific misconduct. To verify the originality of all work, all submissions are screened by section editors before being sent out for peer review. All cases of alleged unethical behaviour are taken very seriously by the publisher and an investigation will be initiated in consultation with the authors, editors and/or peer-reviewers, as appropriate. In cases of proven misconduct the publisher, in collaboration with the editors, will take all appropriate measures to amend the situation, and is always willing to publish corrections, clarifications, retractions, and apologies when needed. Below is a set of guidelines the AITA adheres to:

- All communication among the editorial team and between editors and peer reviewers and authors will take place in a clear, respectful, timely and transparent manner.
- Section Editors are the primary contact between the author and the editorial team. If copyeditors, proofreaders, or layout editors have questions for the author during the production of an article, these should be directed to the Section Editor. This minimizes confusion and miscommunication with the author.
- Members of the editorial team who wish to submit a paper to the journal will submit it directly to the Editor-in-Chief. The Editor-in-Chief will anonymize the paper and direct it through the publication process. Section Editors and/or peer reviewers will determine whether or not to accept the paper. Section Editors may not submit a paper to their own section.
- The Editor-in-Chief will remain neutral and treat all possible breaches of this Code confidentially. The Editor-in-Chief will take action against any individual(s) who do not adhere to the Code of Ethics. This may result in declining a manuscript or dismissing a peer reviewer or editor of their duties.
- Appeals may be directed to the Editorial Board for resolution.
- In the event of a dispute involving the Editor-in-Chief, the matter will be directed to the Editorial Board for resolution.

Peer Review Process:
We recognize the importance of robust peer review in ensuring the quality and reliability of published research. Our journal follows COPE's recommendations for the peer review process, including the use of qualified reviewers, confidentiality, and timely review. We encourage transparency in the review process and disclose any conflicts of interest. 

Code of Ethics for Peer Reviewers:

- Peer reviewers will agree to review manuscripts only for which they have the subject expertise required to carry out a proper assessment and which they can assess in a timely manner.
- They will respect the confidentiality of peer review and not reveal any details of a manuscript or its review, during or after the peer-review process, beyond those that are released by the journal.
- They will not use information obtained during the peer-review process for their own or any other person’s or organization’s advantage, or to disadvantage or discredit others.
- They will declare all potential conflicting interests, seeking advice from the journal if they are unsure whether something constitutes a relevant interest. A peer reviewer shall declare knowledge of the author if he or she detects this in the manuscript.
- They will not allow their reviews to be influenced by the origins of a manuscript, by the nationality, religious or political beliefs, gender or other characteristics of the authors, or by commercial considerations.
- They will be objective and constructive in their reviews, refraining from being hostile or inflammatory and from making libellous or derogatory personal comments.
- They will decline to review if they feel unable to provide a fair and unbiased review.
- Peer reviewers will take into consideration the ethical standards required of authors when submitting their papers. They will assess whether the paper may be plagiarized if informed consent ought to have been obtained if authors have declared competing interests, and whether there is any indication the data has been fabricated or inappropriately manipulated.

Authorship and Contributorship:
We adhere to COPE's guidelines on authorship and contributorship, which emphasize the recognition of individuals who have made substantial contributions to the research. Authors are expected to meet the criteria for authorship and provide appropriate acknowledgments for contributors who do not meet the criteria. We require authors to disclose any potential conflicts of interest.

Code of Ethics for Authors:

- Authors will conduct their research in line with the best practices and regulations of their professional bodies and home institutions.
- The authors will declare any conflicts of interest.
- All authors must be named on the manuscript, and in the order in which they would like to be acknowledged, at the point of submission.
- The submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration.
- The author retains copyright of their work. The author will acknowledge the Partnership as the first place of publication in subsequent use, such as placement in an Institutional Repository.
- The text adheres to the stylistic and bibliographic requirements outlined in the submission guidelines.
- The author has obtained the permission of the copyright holder for the inclusion of any third party material, including images, in the text.
- There has been no falsification or fabrication of data findings.
- The paper includes no instances of plagiarism, such as verbatim copying of another’s work and submitting it as one’s own, or changing words and phrases while retaining the essential content of another’s work.
- If submitting to a peer-reviewed section of the journal, the instructions in Ensuring a blind review have been followed.
- The publication has been approved by all co-authors and responsible authorities at the organization where the work has been carried out.

Plagiarism and Ethical Considerations:
Plagiarism is a serious ethical violation that undermines the integrity of academic publishing. Our journal employs plagiarism detection tools to screen submissions and actively promotes originality in research. We follow COPE's guidelines to address allegations of plagiarism, misconduct, or ethical concerns. We ensure that authors' rights are protected and provide a fair and transparent process for addressing such issues.

Data Integrity and Reproducibility:
We uphold COPE's principles of data integrity and reproducibility. Authors are expected to provide accurate and complete data, methods, and materials to allow for the reproducibility of their research. We encourage authors to make their data openly available whenever possible, in accordance with ethical and legal considerations.

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern:
In cases where errors or concerns are identified in published articles, we follow COPE's guidelines for issuing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern. We ensure transparency by clearly stating the reason for any editorial actions and providing appropriate notices to readers, authors, and other stakeholders.

Conflicts of Interest:
Our journal manages conflicts of interest in accordance with COPE's guidelines. Editors, reviewers, and journal staff are required to disclose any potential conflicts that may compromise their impartiality. We strive to minimize conflicts of interest and maintain transparency in all aspects of the publishing process.

Article Processing Charges Policy: Artificial Intelligence Theory and Applications is an open-access journal that does not charge authors article processing charges, submission fees, or any other kind of fee.

As a journal committed to upholding ethical publishing practices, we align our policies and procedures with COPE's guidelines. We aim to provide a fair, transparent, and rigorous publishing experience for authors and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in a responsible and ethical manner. We encourage all stakeholders to familiarize themselves with COPE's principles and collaborate with us to promote integrity and trust in academic publishing.