This Generative AI Policy applies to all journals published by the International Academic Research Consortium (IARCON). All IARCON journals adhere to this policy to promote the responsible, transparent, and ethical use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in scholarly publishing. This policy is developed in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and internationally recognized best practices for research integrity.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on the acceptable use of Generative AI tools in the preparation, submission, peer review, and editorial management of manuscripts while safeguarding the integrity, originality, and accountability of scholarly publications.

Use of Generative AI by Authors

Authors may use Generative AI tools (e.g., for language editing, grammar improvement, formatting assistance, or improving readability) provided that:

• The authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and validity of all manuscript content. 
• AI-generated content is carefully reviewed, verified, and edited by the authors before submission. 
• The use of AI does not introduce fabricated, misleading, or inaccurate information. 
• Confidential or sensitive data are not uploaded to AI systems unless permitted under applicable privacy and institutional regulations. 

Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose any significant use of Generative AI tools in the preparation of the manuscript. The disclosure should specify:

• The name of the AI tool used. 
• The purpose for which it was used (e.g., language editing, grammar correction, or content organization). 
• A statement confirming that the authors reviewed and verified all AI-assisted content and accept full responsibility for the final manuscript. 

Minor language editing that does not affect the scientific content may not require detailed disclosure, subject to journal requirements.

AI Cannot Be an Author

Generative AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of any manuscript because they cannot meet internationally accepted authorship criteria, including responsibility, accountability, approval of the final manuscript, and management of conflicts of interest.

Originality and Research Integrity

Authors must ensure that manuscripts remain original scholarly works. The use of AI does not exempt authors from compliance with the journal's policies on plagiarism, duplicate publication, data fabrication, falsification, image manipulation, or other forms of research misconduct.

AI-Generated Images, Data, and Figures

The use of AI-generated images, figures, datasets, or other research outputs must be clearly disclosed where applicable. Authors are responsible for ensuring that such materials are accurate, ethically produced, legally permissible, and do not infringe intellectual property or copyright rights.

Use of AI by Reviewers

Peer reviewers must not upload confidential manuscripts, reviewer comments, or unpublished data into Generative AI tools, as doing so may compromise confidentiality, intellectual property, or the integrity of the peer review process.

Reviewers remain solely responsible for preparing their own independent evaluations and recommendations.

Use of AI by Editors

Editors may use AI-assisted tools for administrative purposes such as plagiarism screening, language assessment, or workflow management where appropriate. However, editorial decisions, peer review management, ethical evaluations, and publication decisions shall always be made by qualified human editors.

Confidentiality and Data Protection

Authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff must ensure that confidential, proprietary, patient-related, or unpublished information is not disclosed to AI systems in a manner that violates confidentiality agreements, institutional policies, or applicable data protection laws.

Non-Compliance

Failure to disclose significant AI use, submission of misleading AI-generated content, fabrication of research using AI, or misuse of AI in violation of this policy may constitute publication misconduct. Such cases will be investigated in accordance with COPE guidance and may result in manuscript rejection, correction, retraction, or other appropriate editorial actions.

Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed periodically to reflect advances in artificial intelligence technologies, evolving international publishing standards, and updates to recommendations issued by COPE, ICMJE, and other recognized scholarly publishing organizations.

Commitment to Responsible AI Use

IARCON and all its journals support the responsible and ethical use of Generative AI as a tool to assist scholarly communication, while reaffirming that human authors remain solely responsible for the originality, accuracy, integrity, and ethical standards of all submitted and published work. Editorial independence, peer review integrity, and research transparency remain fundamental principles of all IARCON publications.