Generative AI Policy

Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies Policy

Truth in Research recognizes that generative artificial intelligence and AI-assisted technologies may be useful tools in research, writing, editing, data analysis, visualization, and scholarly communication. Their use is permitted when it is transparent, responsible, and subject to meaningful human oversight.

Authors

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, interpretation, references, data, and conclusions of every manuscript submitted to Truth in Research. Generative AI must not replace the author's own scholarly judgment, analysis, or intellectual contribution.

AI systems may not be listed as authors or co-authors because authorship requires human accountability for the published work.

Authors who use generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in a substantive way during manuscript preparation must disclose that use. The disclosure should identify the tool or service used, describe how it was used, and confirm that the authors reviewed and verified the resulting material. Routine spelling, grammar, punctuation, and basic reference-management functions do not require disclosure.

Authors must independently verify all factual claims, quotations, citations, references, calculations, and other material suggested or generated by AI. Fabricated, unverifiable, or misleading references, data, quotations, results, or sources are prohibited.

If AI is used as part of the research methodology, including data analysis, modelling, image analysis, or other substantive research procedures, its use must be described sufficiently in the Methods section to permit evaluation and, where applicable, reproducibility.

AI Disclosure Statement

When disclosure is required, authors should include a section before the References titled “Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies.”

Suggested wording:

During preparation of this manuscript, the author(s) used [NAME OF TOOL/SERVICE] for [PURPOSE]. The author(s) subsequently reviewed, verified, and edited the resulting material and take full responsibility for the content of the published work.

Figures, Images, and Research Data

Generative AI may be used to assist with explanatory diagrams, conceptual illustrations, and similar non-data graphics when its use is clearly disclosed and the authors verify the accuracy of the resulting image.

AI-generated or AI-modified figures must not be presented as genuine experimental observations or primary research data. Generative AI must not be used to fabricate, invent, or materially alter experimental results, microscopy images, medical images, gels, photographs representing research observations, datasets, or other primary evidence.

Data visualizations produced with AI-assisted tools are acceptable only when they accurately represent underlying data and are generated through documented and reproducible methods.

Peer Review

Submitted manuscripts are confidential. Reviewers must not upload unpublished manuscripts, figures, supplementary material, reviewer communications, or identifiable portions of a submission into publicly accessible generative AI systems or other external AI services where confidentiality cannot be assured.

AI may not replace the reviewer's independent scholarly evaluation. Reviewers remain personally responsible for the accuracy, fairness, reasoning, and recommendations contained in their review.

Any substantive use of generative AI in preparing a review should be disclosed to the editor, provided that no confidential manuscript material has been shared with the AI system.

Editors

Editors must preserve manuscript confidentiality and must not upload unpublished submissions or confidential editorial correspondence into external generative AI systems.

Generative AI must not make or determine editorial decisions. Acceptance, rejection, reviewer selection, evaluation of scientific merit, and other editorial judgments must remain under human editorial control.

Editors remain responsible for all editorial decisions and communications issued on behalf of the journal.

Research Integrity

Undisclosed or inappropriate AI use may be treated as a publication-ethics matter when it results in fabricated information, manipulated evidence, false citations, plagiarism, misrepresentation of authorship, breach of confidentiality, or other compromise of research integrity.

Truth in Research may request additional information concerning AI use when necessary to evaluate the integrity, reproducibility, originality, or authorship of a submission.

Because generative AI technologies and scholarly standards continue to develop, this policy may be updated as appropriate.