Information for authors
AI Policy
Machine Science welcomes the new opportunities offered by generative AI tools — and sets out here what authors, editors and peer reviewers may and may not do with them. This guidance may evolve given the swift development of the AI field.
Introduction
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, such as large language models (LLMs) or multimodal models, continue to develop and evolve, including in their application for businesses and consumers.
Machine Science journal welcomes the new opportunities offered by generative AI tools, particularly in enhancing idea generation and exploration, supporting authors to express content in a non-native language, and accelerating the research and dissemination process. The journal offers guidance to authors, editors and reviewers on the use of such tools, which may evolve given the swift development of the AI field.
Generative AI tools can produce diverse forms of content, spanning text generation, image synthesis, audio and synthetic data. Some examples include ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, Claude, NovelAI, Jasper AI, DALL·E, Midjourney and Runway.
While generative AI has immense capabilities to enhance creativity for authors, there are certain risks associated with the current generation of these tools.
Risks in how generative AI works today4
Generative AI tools are of a statistical nature (as opposed to factual) and, as such, can introduce inaccuracies, falsities (so-called hallucinations) or bias, which can be hard to detect, verify and correct.
Generative AI is often lacking the standard practice of the global scholarly community of correctly and precisely attributing ideas, quotes or citations.
At present, Generative AI tools are often used on third-party platforms that may not offer sufficient standards of confidentiality, data security or copyright protection.
Generative AI providers may reuse the input or output data from user interactions (e.g. for AI training). This practice could potentially infringe on the rights of authors and publishers, amongst others.
Authors
Authors are accountable for the originality, validity and integrity of the content of their submissions. In choosing to use generative AI tools, journal authors are expected to do so responsibly and in accordance with our editorial policies on authorship and our principles of publishing ethics. This includes reviewing the outputs of any generative AI tools and confirming content accuracy.
Machine Science journal supports the responsible use of generative AI tools that respect high standards of data security, confidentiality and copyright protection, in cases such as:
Authors are responsible for ensuring that the content of their submissions meets the required standards of rigorous scientific and scholarly assessment, research and validation, and is created by the author. Note that some journals may not allow use of generative AI tools beyond language improvement; authors are advised to consult the editor prior to submission.
AI cannot be an author
Generative AI tools must not be listed as an author, because such tools are unable to assume responsibility for the submitted content or manage copyright and licensing agreements. Authorship requires taking accountability for content, consenting to publication via a publishing agreement, and giving contractual assurances about the integrity of the work. These are uniquely human responsibilities that cannot be undertaken by generative AI tools.
Required disclosure
Authors must clearly acknowledge within the article any use of generative AI tools through a statement which includes: the full name of the tool used (with version number), how it was used, and the reason for use. For article submissions, this statement must be included in the Methods or Acknowledgments section.
Book authors must disclose their intent to employ generative AI tools at the earliest possible stage to their editorial contacts for approval — either at the proposal phase if known or, if necessary, during the manuscript writing phase. If approved, the statement must then appear in the preface or introduction of the book.
This level of transparency ensures that editors can assess whether generative AI tools have been used and whether they have been used responsibly. Machine Science journal retains its discretion over publication of the work, to ensure that integrity and guidelines have been upheld. These types of cases may be subject to editorial investigation.
If an author intends to use an AI tool, they should ensure that the tool is appropriate and robust for their proposed use, and that the terms applicable to such tool provide sufficient safeguards and protections — for example around intellectual property rights, confidentiality and security.
Images, figures and research data
Machine Science journal currently does not permit the use of generative AI in the creation and manipulation of images and figures, or original research data, for use in our publications. The term “images and figures” includes pictures, charts, data tables, medical imagery, snippets of images, computer code and formulas. The term “manipulation” includes augmenting, concealing, moving, removing or introducing a specific feature within an image or figure.
Utilising generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in any part of the research process should always be undertaken with human oversight and transparency. Research ethics guidelines are still being updated regarding current generative AI technologies, and Machine Science will continue to update our editorial guidelines as the technology and those guidelines evolve.
Editors and peer reviewers
Machine Science journal strives for the highest standards of editorial integrity and transparency. Editors' and peer reviewers' use of manuscripts in generative AI systems may pose a risk to confidentiality, proprietary rights and data, including personally identifiable information. Therefore, editors and peer reviewers must not upload files, images or information from unpublished manuscripts into generative AI tools. Failure to comply with this policy may infringe upon the rightsholder's intellectual property.
Editors
Editors are the shepherds of quality and responsible research content. Therefore, editors must keep submission and peer review details confidential. Use of manuscripts in generative AI systems may give rise to risks around confidentiality, infringement of proprietary rights and data, and other risks; editors must not upload unpublished manuscripts, including any associated files, images or information, into generative AI tools.
Editors should check with their Machine Science contact prior to using any generative AI tools, unless they have already been informed that the tool and the proposed use of the tool is authorised.
Peer reviewers
Peer reviewers are chosen experts in their fields and should not be using generative AI for analysis or to summarise submitted articles, or portions thereof, in the creation of their reviews. As such, peer reviewers must not upload unpublished manuscripts or project proposals, including any associated files, images or information, into generative AI tools.
Generative AI may only be utilised to assist with improving review language, but peer reviewers remain responsible at all times for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of their reviews.