Policy on the use of GenAI

IxD&A Policy on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)

 

1. Purpose and Principles

This policy provides guidance on the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and AI-assisted technologies in research and scholarly publishing. IxD&A recognizes that AI tools can enhance research and communication when used transparently and ethically. However, human authorship, accountability, and critical thinking must remain central to all published work.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all contributors, including authors, reviewers, and guest–editors, involved in the preparation, submission, review, and publication of manuscripts for IxD&A.

3. Use of GenAI by Authors

Authors may use GenAI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, Dall-E, Midjourney, Julius) to support tasks such as improving language, organizing content,  synthesizing literature or generating figures and images only under human oversight. AI-generated content must never replace the author’s own intellectual contribution or analysis. In particular in creating, alter or enhance figures and images authors must not obscure or misrepresent information. 

If GenAI is part of the research method (e.g., AI-based visual analysis or modeling), authors must fully describe this in the Methods section.

Authors, and IxD&A as well, may use Ge4nAI tools (Synthesia, Hedra, etc.) to produce short video that summarise the contribution of accepted articles.

Authors are responsible for:

  • Verifying the accuracy and originality of all content (including AI-assisted output);
  • Ensuring compliance with privacy, copyright, and data protection laws;
  • Checking that the AI tool’s terms of service do not compromise the confidentiality or rights of the material input.

4. Disclosure Requirements

Any use of GenAI tools must be clearly disclosed in the manuscript at submission, in a separate statement such as:

Use of Generative AI statement 

“During the preparation of this manuscript/study, the author(s) used [tool name, version, provider] for [describe purpose, e.g., language improvement, summarization, idea generation] in Section(s) [IDs]. The authors have reviewed and edited the output and take full responsibility for the content of this publication.

Minor language or grammar corrections (e.g., automated spelling or style checks) need not to be declared.

5. Authorship

GenAI tools cannot be credited as authors or co-authors.Authorship implies accountability, approval of the final version, and responsibility for the integrity of the work—all of which require human agency.

6. Use of GenAI by Reviewers

Manuscripts under review are confidential. Reviewers must not upload any portion of a submission or their review report to GenAI tools that do not warrant for data privacy.
Critical evaluation of scholarly work must remain a human process. Reviewers are accountable for the originality and accuracy of their assessments.

7. Use of GenAI by Guest-Editors

Guest-Editors must treat manuscripts and correspondence as confidential and must not use GenAI tools to summarize, evaluate, or draft communications about a submission.
Editorial judgments and publication decisions must be made by humans.
IxD&A may, however, use in-house or licensed AI systems that comply with ethical standards for routine checks (e.g., plagiarism detection, formatting validation, reviewer matching).

8. Misuse and Non-Compliance

Failure to disclose AI use or misuse of GenAI tools may constitute a breach of publication ethics and may lead to rejection, retraction, or other corrective action as determined by the editorial board.