Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are significantly transforming the scientific publication process, offering new opportunities to improve the quality, speed, and efficiency of research. We recognise the importance of these technologies, but we also acknowledge the potential risks associated with their use. Therefore, this document aims to clearly define the ethical principles and requirements regarding the use of AI within the publication processes of our journal.

Purpose and Application of AI

Our journal permits the use of AI tools at several stages of the publication process. They may be useful for:

• Language improvement: using tools to check grammar and refine the stylistic quality of the text.
• Data analysis: assisting in processing large volumes of data, analysing scientific trends, or conducting preliminary screening of the literature.
• Literature search: using AI to enhance the efficiency of searching and sorting scientific sources.
• Automated checks: preliminary plagiarism detection or verification of citation accuracy.

We recommend using AI solely as an auxiliary tool, not as a replacement for essential stages of research and scholarly analysis.

Transparency in the Use of AI

To ensure high standards of ethics and academic integrity, we require that all authors, reviewers, and editors who make use of AI tools provide:

• Full transparency: authors must indicate any use of AI in their work. This must be clearly reported in the accompanying materials to the article, such as the “Materials and Methods” or “Acknowledgements” section, with the specific AI tool used, its version, and the manner of its use.
• Human oversight: AI should only serve as a supplementary tool. Final checking, editing, and correction must be carried out by humans.
• Responsibility: authors, reviewers, and editors remain responsible for the accuracy and scholarly quality of the results, even if AI tools were used.

Ethical Requirements

• Avoiding bias: AI tools may contain inherent biases; therefore, authors should critically evaluate the outputs generated by such technologies.
• Proper attribution: AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Authorship must be assigned to individuals who take responsibility for the scholarly content and who sign the required publication agreements.

Confidentiality and Data Protection

• Protection of personal data: all data processed using AI tools must comply with data protection legislation and confidentiality standards.
• Intellectual property: all rights to content created with the assistance of AI must be clearly defined, and AI tools cannot claim authorship or ownership.

Responsibilities of AI Tool Users

• Authors: authors must confirm that the content submitted for publication meets scientific standards and has been created by the author, even if AI tools were used to assist in its preparation.
• Reviewers: reviewers may use AI tools only to improve the wording of their review, but not for making scientific evaluations or decisions.
• Editors: editors must ensure that the use of AI complies with the ethical requirements of the journal and must not allow automated systems to replace human analytical judgement.

Restrictions on the Use of AI

• AI must not replace scientific analysis: AI tools must not be used for the automatic generation of content, production of data, or any other tasks beyond their auxiliary function.
• Prohibition of image and data manipulation: the journal does not allow the use of AI to create or manipulate images or original research data included in publications.