Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

The Philippine Journal of Chest Diseases (PJCD) recognizes the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI)–assisted tools in scholarly work. This policy provides guidance on the responsible, transparent, and ethical use of AI technologies in manuscript preparation, peer review, and editorial decision-making, while safeguarding scientific integrity, accountability, and trust in the published record.

This policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, editorial board members, and journal staff involved in the submission, review, editing, and publication of manuscripts in PJCD.

Allowable Use of AI by Authors

  • Authors may use AI-assisted tools (e.g., language models, grammar checkers, reference managers, image enhancement tools) only as supportive aids, such as for:
    • Language editing, grammar, and stylistic improvement
    • Summarization or organization of text drafted by the authors
    • Formatting assistance or reference management
  • AI tools must not replace human intellectual contribution, including scientific reasoning, data interpretation, or clinical judgment.

Prohibited or Restricted Use by Authors

  • Authors must not use AI tools to:
    • Generate original scientific content, hypotheses, results, or conclusions without human oversight
    • Fabricate, falsify, or manipulate data, images, or references
    • Generate patient data, case details, or clinical scenarios presented as real
    • Perform peer review or simulate expert evaluation
    • Be listed as an author or co-author
    • Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all submitted content.

Disclosure Requirements

  • Authors must disclose any use of AI tools in the preparation of their manuscript at the time of submission.
  • Disclosure should specify:
    • The name and version of the AI tool used
    • The purpose for which it was used (e.g., language editing, summarization)
    • Disclosure must be included in a dedicated statement (e.g., “Use of AI Tools”) or within the Methods or Acknowledgments section, as appropriate.
  • If no AI tools were used, no disclosure is required.
  • Failure to disclose relevant AI use may be considered a breach of publication ethics.

Use of AI by Reviewers

  • Reviewers must not upload manuscripts or confidential content to AI tools that store, reuse, or learn from submitted data.
  • AI tools must not be used to generate peer review reports or substitute for the reviewer’s expert judgment.
  • Reviewers remain responsible for the confidentiality, originality, and independence of their reviews.

Use of AI by Editors

  • Editors may use AI tools for administrative or language-related tasks (e.g., plagiarism screening, readability checks), provided confidentiality is maintained.
  • Editorial decisions must not be delegated to AI systems.
  • Editors must ensure that AI use does not introduce bias, compromise confidentiality, or undermine editorial independence.

Ethical Oversight and Integrity of the Record

  • PJCD reserves the right to request clarification or additional information regarding disclosed or suspected AI use.
  • Undisclosed or inappropriate use of AI may result in manuscript rejection, correction, retraction, or other actions, consistent with COPE recommendations.
  • AI-generated content is subject to the same standards of originality, accuracy, authorship accountability, and ethical review as all other content.
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