Artificial Intelligence Policy

The journal recognises that generative AI tools can assist in preparing research, and requires that their use be responsible and disclosed, with full scientific responsibility remaining with people. This policy follows COPE guidance.

Authors

• AI is not an author: no AI tool may be listed as an author, as it cannot take responsibility for the work.
• Permitted: improving language and wording, and summarising text written by the authors themselves, with full human review.
• Not permitted: generating or altering data or results, creating or manipulating scientific images or figures, or writing the analysis and conclusions on the authors' behalf; except where AI is part of the research methodology and is fully described in the Methods.
• Checking references: authors verify every reference and fact produced by an AI tool.
• Responsibility: authors are fully responsible for the accuracy and originality of their work.

Disclosure

A section titled "Declaration of AI use" is placed before the reference list, naming the tool, its version and the purpose of use. Spelling and grammar checkers and reference managers need not be declared.

Reviewers

• Reviewers must not upload a manuscript, or any part of it, to an AI tool, to protect confidentiality and the authors' rights.
• Review reports must not be written, or their assessment formed, with an AI tool.
• Reviewers may improve the language of their own report without entering manuscript content.

Editors

• Editors observe the same confidentiality, and editorial decisions remain entirely human.
• The journal may use similarity and AI-text detection tools as a supporting indicator, not as conclusive evidence; authors are always given the opportunity to explain first.

Breaches

Where undisclosed or non-permitted use is established, the journal asks the authors for an explanation; the outcome may be rejection, correction or retraction after publication, in line with COPE guidance.