The International Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Studies (IJAHSS) recognizes the growing use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in academic research and scholarly communication. While AI-assisted tools can support research, writing, language editing, data analysis, and content organization, their use must be transparent, ethical, and consistent with the principles of academic integrity.

This policy establishes the journal’s requirements regarding the use of Generative AI technologies in the preparation, submission, peer review, and publication of manuscripts.

Scope

This policy applies to all Generative AI and Large Language Model (LLM) tools, including but not limited to:

• ChatGPT
• Google Gemini
• Claude AI
• Microsoft Copilot
• AI-powered writing assistants
• AI image-generation tools
• AI-based translation and editing tools
• AI-assisted coding and data-analysis systems

The policy also applies to future AI technologies used in research and manuscript preparation.

Principles of Responsible AI Use

Authors may use Generative AI tools to support aspects of the research and writing process provided that:

• Human authors maintain full responsibility for all submitted content.
• AI tools are used ethically and transparently.
• The use of AI does not compromise research integrity, originality, or accuracy.
• All AI-generated content is carefully reviewed, verified, and edited by the authors before submission.

Authors remain accountable for the accuracy, validity, and originality of all material submitted to the journal.

Disclosure Requirements

Authors must disclose any substantial use of Generative AI tools during manuscript preparation.

Examples of activities that should be disclosed include:

• Generating text or manuscript content.
• Producing summaries or literature syntheses.
• Assisting with data interpretation.
• Creating figures, images, tables, or graphical content.
• Translating significant portions of the manuscript.
• Generating computer code used in the research.

Disclosure should appear in a dedicated section titled “AI Use Statement” before the References section.

Example Disclosure Statement

"The authors used Generative AI tools to assist with language editing and manuscript organization. All content was reviewed, verified, and approved by the authors, who assume full responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the manuscript."

Authorship and Accountability

Generative AI systems cannot be listed as authors or co-authors.

AI tools cannot satisfy authorship criteria because they:

• Cannot take responsibility for published work.
• Cannot approve manuscript versions.
• Cannot disclose conflicts of interest.
• Cannot assume accountability for research integrity.

Only human contributors who meet the journal’s authorship criteria may be listed as authors.

Acceptable Uses of Generative AI

The journal permits responsible use of AI technologies for:

• Language editing and grammar improvement.
• Improving readability and writing clarity.
• Formatting references and citations.
• Generating outlines or organizational structures.
• Assisting with coding and programming tasks.
• Supporting data visualization.
• Translating text between languages.
• Creating graphical abstracts or illustrations when properly disclosed.

Authors must carefully review all AI-generated outputs before submission.

Unacceptable Uses of Generative AI

The following practices are prohibited:

• Submitting AI-generated content without human review.
• Fabricating data, results, citations, references, or sources using AI tools.
• Using AI to manipulate research findings.
• Generating false participant information, interviews, or survey responses.
• Producing misleading images, figures, or visual evidence.
• Concealing substantial AI-generated content.
• Using AI to circumvent ethical research standards.
• Presenting AI-generated work as entirely human-created without disclosure.

Violations may result in manuscript rejection, retraction, or other corrective actions.

Accuracy and Verification

Generative AI systems may produce inaccurate, incomplete, biased, or fabricated information ("hallucinations"). Therefore, authors must:

• Verify all facts, citations, references, and quotations.
• Independently confirm data and analytical results.
• Ensure that cited sources genuinely exist and are correctly referenced.
• Review all AI-generated content for accuracy and scholarly quality.

Responsibility for errors remains solely with the authors.

AI-Generated Images and Multimedia Content

Authors using AI-generated images, graphics, illustrations, audio, or video content must:

• Clearly disclose their use.
• Ensure compliance with copyright and intellectual property laws.
• Confirm that generated content does not misrepresent research findings.
• Maintain transparency regarding the creation and modification of visual materials.

AI-generated images intended as research evidence may be subject to additional scrutiny by editors and reviewers.

Use of AI in Peer Review

Reviewers must not upload confidential manuscripts, datasets, reviewer reports, or unpublished research materials into publicly accessible AI systems.

Reviewers are expected to:

• Maintain confidentiality throughout the review process.
• Protect unpublished research from unauthorized disclosure.
• Comply with journal confidentiality requirements.

The use of Generative AI to write peer-review reports without substantive human evaluation is not permitted.

Use of AI by Editors

Editors may use AI-assisted tools for administrative and editorial support, including:

• Language assessment.
• Similarity screening.
• Technical manuscript checks.
• Workflow management.

However, all editorial decisions must be made solely by qualified human editors.

AI systems shall not independently determine manuscript acceptance, revision, or rejection decisions.

Ethical Compliance

The use of Generative AI must comply with:

• Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidance on AI and publication ethics.
• Institutional research integrity policies.
• Copyright and intellectual property laws.
• Data protection and privacy regulations.
• International standards of scholarly publishing.

Any misuse of AI that compromises research integrity may constitute publication misconduct.

Editorial Investigation and Enforcement

Where concerns arise regarding undisclosed or inappropriate AI use, IJAHSS reserves the right to:

• Request additional information from authors.
• Require submission of original research materials.
• Conduct an ethical review of the manuscript.
• Reject manuscripts that violate this policy.
• Publish corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions where necessary.

Investigations will be conducted in accordance with established publication ethics procedures.

Policy Review

As AI technologies continue to evolve, IJAHSS reserves the right to revise this policy periodically to reflect emerging ethical standards, regulatory developments, and best practices in scholarly publishing.

Commitment to Responsible Innovation

The International Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Studies supports the responsible and transparent use of Generative AI technologies to enhance scholarly communication. The journal encourages innovation while maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, accountability, transparency, and ethical research conduct.