ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE POLICY

Sapiens Sciences (ISSN: 3072-7936) recognizes the growing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, including Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI), Large Language Models (LLMs), machine learning systems, and other automated technologies applied to scientific research, data analysis, and scholarly communication.

The journal supports the responsible, ethical, and transparent use of these technologies in accordance with the principles of scientific integrity, editorial transparency, and academic accountability promoted by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

The use of AI tools does not replace human responsibility. Authors, reviewers, and editors remain fully accountable for all scientific content, evaluations, and editorial decisions throughout the publication process.

1. Use of Artificial Intelligence by Authors

Permitted Uses

Authors may use AI-based tools for legitimate research and manuscript preparation activities, including:

  • Grammar, spelling, and language editing.
  • Improvement of writing quality, readability, and clarity.
  • Translation and linguistic support.
  • Manuscript organization and formatting.
  • Assistance with programming, coding, data processing, or data visualization.
  • Methodological applications involving machine learning, predictive analytics, data mining, natural language processing, or other AI-based techniques that are scientifically justified and appropriately documented.

Transparency and Disclosure

Any use of AI tools beyond basic language editing or formatting assistance must be explicitly disclosed in the manuscript.

The disclosure should include, where applicable:

  • Name of the AI tool or platform used.
  • Developer, organization, or company responsible for the tool.
  • Version, model, or system employed.
  • Specific purpose of its use.
  • Approximate date or period of use when relevant.

Such information may be reported in the Methods, Acknowledgments, or a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Statement.

2. Responsibility for Scientific Content

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and scientific validity of all submitted content, regardless of whether AI tools were used to generate, assist, modify, or enhance any part of the work.

The use of AI does not exempt authors from responsibility for:

  • Methodological errors.
  • Incorrect interpretations.
  • Misleading or inaccurate information.
  • Non-existent, fabricated, or incorrect references.
  • Relevant omissions.
  • Biases introduced by algorithms or models.
  • Data fabrication, falsification, or manipulation.
  • Any other form of scientific misconduct.

3. Authorship

Artificial Intelligence systems do not satisfy internationally recognized authorship criteria established by the ICMJE.

Therefore:

  • AI tools may not be listed as authors or co-authors of any manuscript.
  • AI systems cannot assume intellectual, ethical, legal, or scientific responsibility for published work.
  • AI tools cannot sign authorship declarations, conflict-of-interest disclosures, copyright agreements, or publishing licenses.

Authorship is restricted exclusively to natural persons who are capable of assuming public responsibility for the integrity and content of a scholarly publication.

4. Integrity of Data, Images, and Research Results

Authors must ensure that the use of AI does not improperly alter, distort, fabricate, or misrepresent research data, evidence, results, or conclusions.

The following practices are strictly prohibited:

  • Generating fictitious data or non-existent results.
  • Fabricating datasets, experiments, observations, or evidence.
  • Manipulating results to alter their scientific interpretation.
  • Creating fabricated, inaccurate, or unverifiable references.
  • Presenting AI-generated content as genuine empirical evidence.
  • Producing deceptive scientific images, figures, or visual materials.

In addition, AI tools must not be used to modify clinical, diagnostic, radiological, pathological, microscopic, forensic, laboratory, or other scientific images when such modifications could affect scientific interpretation, diagnostic conclusions, or research validity.

All cited references must correspond to real, verifiable, and accessible sources.

5. Use of AI in Research Methodologies

When Artificial Intelligence constitutes part of the study design, methodology, analytical framework, or research procedures, authors must provide sufficient detail to ensure transparency, critical evaluation, and reproducibility.

This description should include, where applicable:

  • Algorithms, models, or AI architectures employed.
  • Training, validation, and testing procedures.
  • Data sources and datasets used.
  • Performance metrics and evaluation criteria.
  • Model limitations and potential biases.
  • Reproducibility considerations.

The level of reporting should be sufficient to allow reviewers and readers to assess the scientific validity and reliability of the methodology.

6. Use of Artificial Intelligence by Reviewers

Confidentiality is a fundamental principle of the peer-review process.

Reviewers must not upload, submit, or disclose manuscripts, unpublished data, peer-review reports, supplementary materials, or any confidential editorial information to external AI platforms that may store, process, retain, or reuse submitted content.

Reviewers may use AI tools only for limited linguistic or technical assistance in relation to text they have personally drafted, provided that such use does not compromise manuscript confidentiality or editorial integrity.

Reviewers remain fully responsible for:

  • The quality of their assessments.
  • The accuracy of their comments.
  • The appropriateness of their recommendations.
  • The confidentiality of all materials under review.

7. Use of Artificial Intelligence by Editors

Editors must preserve editorial independence, confidentiality, scientific integrity, and fairness throughout all stages of the editorial process.

Editors shall not submit confidential manuscripts, reviewer reports, unpublished data, or sensitive editorial information to external AI systems that may retain or reuse such materials.

AI tools may be employed only for limited administrative, technical, or quality-control support and shall never replace independent human editorial judgment.

All editorial decisions must be based on:

  • Independent peer-review evaluations.
  • Critical editorial assessment.
  • Scientific merit and methodological rigor.
  • Ethical publishing standards.
  • The journal’s editorial policies and procedures.

8. Use of Automated Tools by the Journal

Sapiens Sciences may employ automated technologies to support activities related to:

  • Similarity checking and plagiarism detection.
  • Reference verification.
  • Detection of manipulated or altered images.
  • Identification of potential publication ethics concerns.
  • Editorial quality assurance.
  • Manuscript management and workflow administration.

Outputs generated by such tools are strictly advisory and supportive in nature.

No editorial decision shall be made solely or automatically by Artificial Intelligence systems.

Human editorial oversight shall be maintained at all times.

9. Non-Compliance with this Policy

Failure to comply with this policy may result in editorial actions proportional to the severity of the violation, including:

  • Requests for clarification or additional information.
  • Manuscript revision requirements.
  • Editorial rejection of the submission.
  • Publication of corrections.
  • Retraction of published articles.
  • Notification of relevant institutions, funding agencies, or research integrity bodies when appropriate.
  • Any additional measures established under the journal’s ethical and editorial policies.

Final Statement

Sapiens Sciences promotes the responsible, transparent, and ethically grounded use of Artificial Intelligence as a tool to support research and scholarly communication.

The journal reaffirms that responsibility for the creation, evaluation, interpretation, and dissemination of scientific knowledge always rests with the human participants involved in the publication process. Through this commitment, Sapiens Sciences seeks to preserve academic integrity, maintain the reliability of the scholarly record, and strengthen trust within the international research community.