Policy on the use of AI

Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Editorial Activities of the Scientific Periodical “Bulletin of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv”

https://sciencejournals.knu.ua

1. Introduction

This document defines the principles and rules for using artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the preparation, peer review, and publication of materials in the scientific periodical "Bulletin of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv" (hereinafter – the Journal). We acknowledge the potential benefits of AI in enhancing the efficiency and quality of scholarly publications; however, we emphasize the necessity of its ethical, responsible, and transparent application in compliance with academic integrity and scientific ethics standards.

2. Scope of Application

This policy applies to all participants in the Journal's editorial process, including:

·       Authors who submit materials to the Journal.

·       Reviewers who conduct expert evaluation of submitted materials.

·       Members of the editorial board and editorial staff.

3. Authors' use of AI tools

Authors may use AI tools to improve the quality of their manuscripts, subject to the following mandatory conditions:

Responsibility for Content. Authors bear full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and reliability of all content in their manuscript, including sections created or edited using AI tools. The use of AI does not exempt the author from responsibility for plagiarism, fabrication, falsification of data, or other violations of academic integrity.

Transparency and Disclosure. Authors are required to clearly state the use of AI tools during manuscript preparation in the "Acknowledgements" section or a dedicated "Use of AI Tools" subsection. It is necessary to specify the name of the AI tool, its version, and its purpose (e.g., for text editing, grammar checking, data analysis, image generation, etc.).

Authorship Restrictions. AI tools cannot be listed as authors of manuscripts. Authorship belongs solely to the individuals who have made a significant intellectual contribution to the research and preparation of the publication.

Verification of Generated Content. Authors must carefully review any text, data, or images generated by AI tools for accuracy, contextual relevance, and the absence of bias or errors.

Use for Data Analysis. When using AI tools for data analysis, authors must clearly describe the analysis methodology, including the AI tools used, in the "Materials and Methods" section.

Use for Image Generation. If AI tools were used to generate images or other visual materials, authors must indicate this in the captions of the respective elements and in the "Use of AI Tools" section.

4. Use of AI Tools by Reviewers

Reviewers may use AI tools to improve the efficiency of the peer-review process, subject to the following conditions:

Confidentiality. Reviewers are prohibited from uploading confidential manuscript materials (including full text, data, figures, etc.) into AI tools that do not guarantee data confidentiality and security.

Objectivity. The use of AI tools must not affect the objectivity and impartiality of the review. The reviewer bears full responsibility for the content of their review.

Disclosure. Reviewers are encouraged to inform the Editorial Board of the use of AI tools during the preparation of the review, if applicable.

5. Use of AI Tools by the Editorial Board and Staff

The Editorial Board and staff of the Journal may use AI tools to optimize editorial processes, such as:

  Plagiarism detection (using specialized tools).

  Checking formatting and compliance with Journal requirements.

  Assistance in selecting potential reviewers.

  Analysis of trends in scientific publications.

In doing so, principles of confidentiality, data security, and the avoidance of biases inherent in some AI tools must be strictly followed. Decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of a manuscript are always made by the Editorial Board based on scientific merit and compliance with Journal standards, rather than solely on results obtained through AI tools.

6. Ethical Aspects and Responsibility

Plagiarism. Using text generated by AI tools without proper attribution and/or without substantial reworking by the author may be considered plagiarism.

Bias. AI tools may generate content containing biases reflecting the data on which they were trained. Authors, reviewers, and the editorial office must critically evaluate AI outputs and avoid disseminating biased content.

Transparency. Maximum transparency regarding the use of AI tools is a key element of responsible scientific publishing.

Accountability. Ultimate accountability for compliance with ethical norms and Journal standards lies with the authors, reviewers, and Editorial Board members.

7. Handling Violations

Any identified cases of improper or unethical use of AI tools will be reviewed by the Editorial Board in accordance with the Journal's procedures for handling publication ethics violations. This may include a request for clarification from the author/reviewer, rejection of the manuscript, retraction of a published article, or other measures.

8. Policy Updates

This policy may be reviewed and updated by the Journal's Editorial Board to reflect developments in AI technology and evolving standards within the scientific community.