Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence
The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted tools in the preparation, review, and editing of scholarly work raises important questions of authorship, accountability, transparency, and confidentiality. Sosyal Mucit Academic Review aligns its policy with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).
Use by Authors
Authors may use generative AI and AI-assisted tools to improve the readability and language of their manuscripts, provided that such use is conducted under human oversight and that the authors verify and take full responsibility for the content of the work. AI tools must not be used to generate or fabricate research findings, data, citations, references, images, or analyses.
Generative AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors. Authorship implies accountability for the work, which only humans can assume. Where AI or AI-assisted tools have been used, authors must disclose this use in a dedicated statement placed at the end of the manuscript, immediately before the references. The statement must specify:
the tool used (name and version),
the purpose for which it was used (e.g., language editing, summarisation, formatting),
the section(s) of the manuscript in which it was used.
Use of AI for routine spell-checking and grammar correction does not require disclosure.
Use by Reviewers
Reviewers must not upload manuscripts, in whole or in part, to generative AI tools or to any external platform. Manuscripts under review are confidential documents, and uploading them to an AI tool may constitute a breach of confidentiality and intellectual property. Reviewers may use AI tools only for tasks that do not involve sharing manuscript content (for example, language polishing of their own review comments after the substantive review has been completed).
Use by Editors
Editors are bound by the same confidentiality principles as reviewers. Editorial decisions cannot be delegated to AI tools; the assessment of scholarly quality, fit with the journal, and research integrity remains a human responsibility.
Disclosure and Compliance
Failure to disclose the use of AI tools in line with this policy may be treated as a breach of publication ethics and may result in rejection, retraction, or other corrective action consistent with COPE guidelines.
Example Disclosure Statement
"During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used [tool name and version] for [specific purpose, e.g., language polishing of the introduction and discussion]. After using this tool, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take full responsibility for the content of the publication."
