Artificial Intelligence and Automated Tools Policy

Artificial Intelligence and Automated Tools Policy

Avicenna Journal of Clinical and Translational Medicine

The Avicenna Journal of Clinical and Translational Medicine (AJCTM), published by Avicenna Medical Press (AMP), recognizes the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in biomedical research, manuscript preparation, scientific communication, and scholarly publishing.

AJCTM supports the responsible use of AI-assisted technologies when they enhance efficiency, clarity, or scientific analysis without compromising research integrity, originality, confidentiality, or accountability.

This policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, and individuals involved in the journal's editorial and publication processes.

1. General Principles

AI-assisted technologies may support scholarly work, but they do not replace human scientific judgment, professional accountability, or ethical responsibility.

All individuals using AI tools remain responsible for verifying the accuracy, originality, reliability, and appropriateness of any resulting material.

2. AI Use in Manuscript Preparation

Authors may use AI-assisted technologies for appropriate language support, including grammar correction, spelling, readability, and improvements to the clarity of scientific writing.

AI-generated or substantially AI-revised scientific content must be reviewed critically by the authors. Authors must verify factual claims, references, interpretations, and conclusions before submission.

AI-generated material must not be presented as independently verified scientific evidence. Authors remain responsible for the final manuscript.

3. Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose the use of AI-assisted tools in the preparation or conduct of submitted work. The disclosure should identify the tool, its purpose, and the nature of its contribution.

AI use should be reported in the cover letter and in the manuscript section most appropriate to the activity performed.

• AI-assisted writing or substantial text generation should be described in the Acknowledgments or a dedicated AI Use Declaration.
• AI-assisted data processing, statistical analysis, coding, figure generation, or research methodology should be described in the Methods section.
• Any use affecting the interpretation or presentation of findings should be sufficiently explained to support scientific evaluation.

Authors should disclose routine language-editing assistance where AI tools were used; ordinary non-generative spelling and grammar checks do not require an extensive technical description.

4. AI and Authorship

AI systems, chatbots, and automated technologies cannot be listed as authors or co-authors.

Authorship requires intellectual contribution, approval of the submitted work, accountability, and the ability to respond to concerns about accuracy and integrity. AI systems cannot fulfil these responsibilities.

All named human authors must satisfy the journal's authorship requirements.

5. Research Data and Scientific Integrity

AI tools may assist in legitimate scientific activities, including coding, data processing, statistical analysis, and research visualization, provided their use is methodologically justified, appropriately validated, and transparently reported.

AI must not be used to fabricate, falsify, misrepresent, or improperly manipulate research data, statistical results, images, or conclusions.

Authors must retain appropriate research records and be able to explain and verify the methods underlying their findings.

6. Figures, Images, and Clinical Material

AI-assisted figures or visual materials must be accurately described and must not misrepresent the underlying research.

Manipulation of clinical photographs, diagnostic images, histological images, or experimental results in a manner that alters scientific meaning is prohibited.

Any AI-generated or AI-modified illustration must be disclosed, appropriately labelled, and used only where it does not compromise scientific integrity or applicable rights.

Patient confidentiality, informed consent, and relevant institutional data protection requirements must be respected.

7. References and Source Verification

Authors must independently verify all references, DOIs, quoted material, and factual claims.

Fabricated citations, nonexistent publications, misattributed findings, and unsupported references are unacceptable regardless of whether AI assistance was involved.

AI-generated responses should not be cited as substitutes for appropriate primary scientific literature.

8. Use of AI by Reviewers

Reviewers must protect the confidentiality of manuscripts and all unpublished material received during peer review.

Reviewers must not upload confidential manuscripts, figures, research data, or review correspondence to external AI systems where confidentiality cannot be assured without appropriate authorization.

AI tools must not replace the reviewer's independent evaluation of scientific quality, methodology, originality, and ethical compliance.

Any permitted substantive use of AI during peer review should be disclosed to the handling editor.

9. Use of AI by Editors

Editors may use appropriately approved technological tools for administrative support, language assistance, and workflow management.

Editorial decisions must remain under responsible human oversight.

Unpublished manuscripts must not be submitted to external AI services where confidentiality and data protection cannot be assured without the author's explicit permission.

Editors must assess any AI-generated recommendations critically and must not delegate final editorial decisions to automated systems.

10. AI Detection and Editorial Assessment

AJCTM may examine manuscripts for potentially inappropriate or undisclosed AI-assisted content where there is a reasonable editorial concern.

Automated AI-detection results are not considered conclusive evidence of research misconduct.

Concerns will be evaluated using relevant evidence, author explanations, and appropriate editorial procedures.

11. Non-compliance

Failure to disclose material AI use, fabrication of AI-generated references, misrepresentation of research findings, or breaches of manuscript confidentiality may lead to requests for clarification, correction, manuscript rejection, or post-publication action.

Any investigation will be conducted in accordance with the journal's publication ethics, complaints, and corrections policies.

12. Policy Review

AJCTM will review this policy periodically to reflect developments in AI technologies and internationally recognized publication ethics guidance.

The policy is informed by recommendations from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

ICMJE Recommendations
Committee on Publication Ethics

13. Editorial Correspondence

For clarification concerning AI disclosures or responsible use of automated tools, please contact:

Editorial Office, AJCTM
editor@ajctm.org