AI Use & Disclosure

ETERNAL (English, Teaching, Learning and Research) recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies are increasingly used in research, academic writing, editing, translation, data analysis, and scholarly communication. The journal permits the responsible use of AI-assisted tools while requiring transparency, human oversight, and full accountability for the content of submitted and published work.

This policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, and other individuals involved in the publication process.

1. Responsible Use of AI

Authors may use AI-assisted tools to support aspects of manuscript preparation, provided that their use does not compromise the originality, integrity, accuracy, or transparency of the research.

AI tools may assist with activities such as:

  • language improvement and grammar correction;
  • spelling and punctuation checking;
  • translation;
  • improving clarity and readability;
  • brainstorming or organizing ideas;
  • formatting assistance; and
  • other limited forms of editorial or technical support.

The use of AI must remain under meaningful human supervision. Authors are responsible for checking, revising, and validating all AI-assisted outputs before submission.

2. AI Must Not Replace Scholarly Responsibility

AI-assisted tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors because they cannot take responsibility for the research, approve the final manuscript, disclose competing interests, or respond to questions concerning the integrity of the work.

The authors remain fully responsible for:

  • the accuracy and originality of the manuscript;
  • the interpretation of evidence and research findings;
  • the accuracy of citations and references;
  • compliance with ethical research requirements;
  • disclosure of relevant AI use; and
  • the final submitted and published version of the manuscript.

Authors should not present AI-generated content as independently produced scholarly work when disclosure is required.

3. AI-Generated Text and Content

If AI-assisted tools are used to generate substantive text, arguments, interpretations, summaries, or other content that materially contributes to the manuscript, authors should disclose such use.

AI-generated content must be critically evaluated and independently verified by the authors. Authors should be particularly careful about:

  • fabricated or inaccurate information;
  • invented or incorrect references;
  • unsupported claims;
  • inappropriate interpretation of evidence;
  • biased or misleading statements; and
  • unintended plagiarism or unattributed reproduction of existing material.

Authors remain responsible for correcting any errors introduced through the use of AI.

4. AI-Assisted Language Editing

The use of AI-assisted tools for routine language editing, grammar correction, spelling, translation, or improvement of readability does not necessarily require detailed reporting of every individual correction.

However, when AI tools have been used substantially to generate or restructure the manuscript, authors should provide an appropriate disclosure.

The extent of disclosure should reflect the nature and significance of the AI assistance.

5. AI Use in Research and Data Analysis

AI tools may be used in research activities such as coding, data processing, classification, transcription, or analysis when their use is methodologically appropriate and ethically acceptable.

Where AI materially contributes to research procedures or analysis, authors should describe its use in the appropriate section of the manuscript, including, where relevant:

  • the purpose for which the tool was used;
  • the name and version of the tool;
  • how the tool was used;
  • the extent of human verification or intervention; and
  • any limitations that may affect the interpretation or reproducibility of the research.

Authors must not rely on AI-generated analysis without appropriate validation.

6. AI and Research Data

Authors should not upload confidential, sensitive, personally identifiable, or otherwise protected research data to external AI systems unless such use is permitted by applicable ethical requirements, institutional policies, participant consent, and relevant data-protection requirements.

Particular care should be taken when research involves human participants, unpublished data, confidential documents, or proprietary materials.

Authors remain responsible for protecting research participants and maintaining the confidentiality and security of research data.

7. Disclosure of AI Use

When AI-assisted tools have been used in a substantive way in preparing or conducting the research, authors should provide a clear disclosure.

A suitable disclosure may be included in the manuscript under an AI Use and Disclosure or Acknowledgements section, depending on the nature of the use.

Example 1: Language Editing

AI Use and Disclosure: The authors used [name of AI tool] for language editing and improving the clarity and readability of the manuscript. All outputs were reviewed and revised by the authors, who take full responsibility for the final content.

Example 2: Substantive Writing Assistance

AI Use and Disclosure: The authors used [name of AI tool and version] to assist with selected aspects of manuscript development, including drafting and restructuring portions of the text. All AI-assisted content was critically reviewed, verified, and revised by the authors. The authors take full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the final manuscript.

Example 3: Research or Data Analysis

AI Use and Disclosure: [Name of AI tool and version] was used to assist with [describe the specific research task]. The authors independently reviewed and verified the outputs and remain responsible for the methodology, analysis, interpretation, and conclusions presented in this article.

8. AI Use That Does Not Require Disclosure

Routine use of standard digital tools for spelling, grammar, formatting, reference management, or similar technical functions generally does not require a specific AI disclosure when the tool does not generate substantive scholarly content.

However, authors should disclose AI use whenever it has materially contributed to the development, analysis, interpretation, or presentation of the research.

When in doubt, transparency is preferred.

9. AI-Generated Images, Figures, and Other Materials

Authors should disclose the use of generative AI to create or substantially modify images, figures, illustrations, or other research materials when such use is relevant to the manuscript.

AI-generated or AI-modified visual materials must not misrepresent research evidence or alter research results in a misleading manner.

Authors must also ensure that the use of AI-generated materials does not infringe copyright, licensing, privacy, or other applicable rights.

10. AI and Citations

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all citations and references are accurate and verifiable.

AI-assisted tools must not be used as a substitute for checking original scholarly sources. Authors should consult the original sources and ensure that cited works actually support the claims for which they are cited.

Fabricated, unverifiable, or misleading references generated by AI are unacceptable.

11. AI Use by Reviewers

Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts under review.

Reviewers should not upload manuscripts, unpublished research, confidential reviewer materials, or other protected information into public or external AI systems where confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.

AI tools should not be used to replace the reviewer's independent scholarly judgment.

If AI assistance is used in preparing a review, reviewers remain responsible for the accuracy, fairness, confidentiality, and originality of the review.

Reviewers should disclose substantive use of AI assistance to the editor when appropriate.

12. AI Use by Editors

Editors may use AI-assisted technologies for limited administrative or technical purposes where appropriate, provided that confidentiality, data protection, and editorial independence are maintained.

Editors must not allow AI tools to replace editorial judgment concerning:

  • the suitability of manuscripts;
  • peer-review decisions;
  • ethical concerns;
  • research integrity;
  • conflicts of interest; or
  • publication decisions.

Confidential manuscript content must not be entered into AI systems in ways that could compromise the confidentiality of submissions.

13. Editorial Accountability

ETERNAL does not consider the use of AI itself to constitute research misconduct. The acceptability of AI use depends on how the technology is used and whether its use is transparent, responsible, and consistent with scholarly and ethical standards.

Failure to disclose substantive AI use, misrepresentation of AI-generated material, fabrication, plagiarism, manipulation of research evidence, or other inappropriate use may result in editorial action.

14. Changes in AI Technology

Because AI technologies and responsible-use standards continue to develop, ETERNAL may periodically update this policy to reflect emerging scholarly practices, ethical standards, and publishing requirements.

Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to follow the version of the policy applicable at the time of their participation in the publication process.

15. Commitment to Transparency

ETERNAL supports the responsible use of AI-assisted technologies as tools that may enhance scholarly work without replacing human authorship, critical judgment, or accountability.

The fundamental principle of this policy is transparency: authors and other participants in the publication process should clearly distinguish human scholarly responsibility from assistance provided by AI technologies.