Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
The Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (JMID) recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI), including generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), large language models (LLMs), chatbots, AI-assisted writing tools, image-generation tools, and other AI technologies, can provide useful assistance in scholarly research, manuscript preparation, editing, publishing, and communication.
At the same time, the use of AI in scholarly publishing raises important concerns regarding accuracy, originality, plagiarism, copyright, confidentiality, transparency, authorship, research integrity, and accountability.
This policy establishes the principles governing the responsible and transparent use of AI in manuscripts submitted to and published by JMID.
This policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, editorial board members, and other individuals involved in the editorial and publication process.
1. General Principles
AI-assisted technologies may be used when their use is appropriate, responsible, transparent, and consistent with research and publication ethics.
However:
AI systems cannot be listed as authors or co-authors.
Human authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and ethical compliance of their work.
Authors must carefully review and verify AI-generated or AI-assisted content before submission.
AI-generated text, references, data, images, figures, code, or other material must not introduce plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, copyright infringement, or misleading information.
The use of AI must not compromise the confidentiality of unpublished manuscripts, research data, personal information, or other confidential material.
Material use of AI should be disclosed in accordance with this policy.
2. Acceptable Use of AI by Authors
Authors may use AI-assisted technologies for appropriate purposes, including:
grammar, spelling, punctuation, and language correction;
improving clarity, readability, and organization of text;
translation or language assistance;
generating suggestions for wording or structure;
assisting with literature-search strategies;
assisting with coding or programming, provided that the resulting code and outputs are independently verified;
assisting with data analysis or visualization, provided that the methods, outputs, and conclusions are independently verified by the authors;
generating ideas or outlines during manuscript development; and
assisting with the preparation or improvement of figures, graphical abstracts, or other visual materials, where permitted by applicable copyright and journal requirements.
Use of AI for these purposes does not transfer responsibility from the authors to the AI system.
3. AI-Generated or AI-Assisted Scientific Content
Authors must exercise particular caution when AI is used to generate or substantially modify scientific content.
AI systems may produce inaccurate, incomplete, biased, fabricated, or misleading information, including non-existent references and incorrect scientific statements.
Authors must independently verify:
scientific facts and statements;
references and citations;
numerical results;
statistical analyses;
tables and figures;
data interpretation;
conclusions;
quotations and attributions; and
information concerning patients, research participants, animals, or other subjects.
Authors are responsible for ensuring that the final manuscript accurately reflects the underlying research.
AI must not be used to fabricate or manipulate research data, experimental results, images, clinical findings, statistical results, references, or other scientific evidence.
4. AI and Authorship
AI systems, including ChatGPT and other generative AI tools, cannot be listed as authors or co-authors.
Authorship requires responsibility and accountability for the published work. AI systems cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, originality, conflicts of interest, copyright, or ethical aspects of a manuscript.
All listed authors must meet JMID's authorship requirements and remain responsible for the entire content of the manuscript, including material produced or modified with AI assistance.
5. Disclosure of AI Use
Authors must disclose material use of AI-assisted technologies when AI has contributed substantially to the preparation, analysis, generation, or presentation of the manuscript.
The disclosure should identify:
the AI tool or system used;
the purpose for which it was used; and
where appropriate, the nature or extent of its contribution.
A suitable disclosure statement is:
Artificial Intelligence Disclosure: During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [name of AI tool] for [language editing/translation/data analysis/figure preparation/etc.]. The authors reviewed and verified all AI-assisted content and take full responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the submitted work.
When AI has been used for data analysis, data processing, image generation or modification, statistical analysis, coding, or other scientific procedures, authors should describe its use in the relevant Materials and Methods or equivalent section of the manuscript.
Routine use of conventional spelling, grammar, or reference-management software that does not generate substantive content generally does not require a separate AI disclosure.
6. AI-Generated Images and Figures
Authors must disclose the use of generative AI to create, modify, enhance, or substantially alter images, figures, graphical abstracts, or other visual material.
AI-generated or AI-modified images must not misrepresent experimental findings or scientific evidence.
AI must not be used to:
fabricate experimental images;
add, remove, or alter research findings;
manipulate microscopy, radiography, histology, electrophoresis, or other scientific images in a misleading manner;
create apparently authentic experimental results that did not occur; or
otherwise distort or misrepresent scientific evidence.
Authors must ensure that AI-generated or AI-modified material complies with applicable copyright, licensing, and intellectual-property requirements.
Editors may request additional information concerning the origin or processing of an image or figure.
7. AI in Data Analysis and Research
AI may be used as a research or analytical tool when scientifically justified and appropriately validated.
When AI contributes materially to data analysis or other scientific procedures, authors should provide sufficient information to allow editors and readers to understand its role, including, where relevant:
the AI system or software used;
version or model information;
the purpose of the AI application;
relevant parameters or prompts where scientifically necessary;
the data processed;
validation and quality-control procedures; and
how the authors verified the resulting outputs.
AI-generated outputs must not be treated as inherently accurate or authoritative.
8. Fabrication, Falsification, and Misrepresentation
The use of AI to fabricate, falsify, manipulate, or misrepresent research constitutes a serious breach of publication ethics.
Examples include:
fabricated data;
fabricated references;
fabricated quotations;
fabricated experimental observations;
manipulated scientific images;
invented statistical results;
false claims regarding methods or materials; or
presenting AI-generated material as original scientific work without appropriate disclosure where disclosure is required.
Such conduct may result in rejection, correction, retraction, or other appropriate editorial action in accordance with JMID's publication ethics policies.
9. Plagiarism, Copyright, and Intellectual Property
Authors remain responsible for ensuring that AI-assisted content does not infringe copyright or other intellectual-property rights.
AI-generated material may resemble existing copyrighted material or contain information derived from existing sources without appropriate attribution.
Authors must therefore:
verify the originality of submitted content;
provide appropriate citations and attribution;
obtain permissions where required;
avoid reproducing copyrighted material without authorization; and
ensure that AI-generated references are genuine, relevant, and accurately cited.
AI-generated content must not be used as a substitute for citation of the original scientific literature.
10. Confidentiality and Sensitive Information
Authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff must exercise appropriate caution when using AI systems.
Unpublished manuscripts, confidential peer-review materials, proprietary information, personal data, patient information, research-participant information, or other confidential material must not be uploaded to public or third-party AI systems where confidentiality and data protection cannot be adequately assured.
Reviewers and editors must not upload submitted manuscripts or confidential peer-review information into AI systems that do not provide appropriate confidentiality protections.
The confidentiality of the peer-review process must be maintained at all times.
11. AI Use by Peer Reviewers
Peer reviewers may use AI-assisted tools only when such use is consistent with JMID's confidentiality and publication-ethics requirements.
Reviewers must not upload a submitted manuscript or confidential manuscript material into an AI system where confidentiality cannot be assured.
AI must not replace the reviewer's independent scientific judgment.
Reviewers remain fully responsible for their peer-review reports and must independently evaluate the scientific validity, originality, methodology, interpretation, and presentation of the manuscript.
Where requested by the journal, reviewers should disclose material use of AI in preparing a peer-review report.
12. AI Use by Editors and Editorial Staff
Editors and editorial staff may use appropriate AI-assisted tools for administrative or editorial purposes, provided that such use does not compromise confidentiality, editorial independence, research integrity, or the rights of authors.
AI may assist with tasks such as language editing, formatting, administrative processing, or identification of potential issues.
However, substantive editorial decisions must remain under human responsibility.
AI tools must not independently determine manuscript acceptance, rejection, retraction, or other substantive editorial decisions.
13. Editorial Screening and AI Detection
JMID may use appropriate software and AI-assisted technologies as part of manuscript screening, quality control, plagiarism checking, image screening, and research-integrity assessment.
As part of its editorial screening process, JMID may use AI-detection technology, including Winston AI, to identify manuscripts that may warrant further assessment for potential AI-generated or AI-assisted content.
AI-detection results are considered screening indicators only and will not, by themselves, be treated as conclusive evidence of inappropriate AI use, academic misconduct, or research misconduct.
AI-detection technologies can produce both false-positive and false-negative results. A high AI-detection score does not necessarily establish that a manuscript has been improperly generated by AI, while a low score does not establish that AI has not been used.
Where an AI-detection result raises a reasonable concern, the editorial team may:
conduct additional editorial assessment;
request clarification from the authors;
request an AI-use disclosure;
examine the manuscript and supporting materials;
request information concerning the AI tools used and their contribution; or
take other appropriate editorial steps consistent with JMID's policies.
Authors will be given an appropriate opportunity to explain material AI use when clarification is required.
No manuscript will be rejected solely on the basis of an automated AI-detection score.
The final editorial assessment remains the responsibility of the journal's editors and is not determined solely by an automated AI-detection result.
14. Failure to Disclose Material AI Use
Failure to disclose material AI use when disclosure is required may constitute a breach of JMID's publication policies.
Where appropriate, the editorial team may request an explanation or additional disclosure from the authors.
Depending on the nature and seriousness of the concern, possible actions may include:
requesting clarification or additional disclosure;
requiring revision of the manuscript;
rejection of a manuscript;
publication of a correction or clarification;
retraction of a published article in serious cases; or
other appropriate editorial or ethical action.
15. Responsibility of Authors
By submitting a manuscript to JMID, authors confirm that:
they have reviewed the entire manuscript;
all authors accept responsibility for the submitted work;
material AI use has been appropriately disclosed;
AI-assisted content has been appropriately reviewed and verified;
the manuscript does not contain fabricated or falsified information;
references and citations have been verified;
the manuscript does not knowingly infringe copyright or other intellectual-property rights;
confidential or sensitive information has not been improperly disclosed to AI systems; and
the final manuscript represents the authors' scientific work, analysis, and judgment.
16. Editorial Discretion
JMID reserves the right to request additional information concerning the use of AI during manuscript submission, peer review, production, or after publication.
The editors may require authors to provide further details concerning AI-generated text, images, data analysis, code, figures, or other AI-assisted material where necessary to assess research integrity, transparency, or compliance with this policy.
17. Post-Publication Concerns
If significant undisclosed or inappropriate use of AI is identified after publication, JMID may investigate the matter in accordance with its publication-ethics procedures.
Where appropriate, the journal may publish a correction, expression of concern, or retraction, depending on the nature and impact of the issue.
18. Policy Updates
Because AI technologies and standards for responsible scholarly use are rapidly evolving, JMID may periodically revise this policy to reflect developments in research integrity, publication ethics, copyright, data protection, and recommendations from recognized scholarly organizations.
Authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial board members are expected to comply with the version of the policy applicable at the time of their involvement in the publication process.
