SJSS Generative AI Ethics Policy aims to ensure the responsible, transparent, and ethical use of AI technologies in scholarly publishing. This policy protects research integrity while respecting the rights of authors, reviewers, and editors. AI tools are recognized as supportive instruments but must not replace human intellectual contribution or scholarly accountability.

1. AI tools may be used only as supportive tools during manuscript preparation. Authors may use AI tools for the following purposes:

A. Language Refinement: Improving grammar, spelling, readability, and clarity; and editing sentence structure. 

B. Illustrative Support: Generating conceptual, schematic, or decorative graphics; producing diagrams or visual elements that assist explanation or presentation.

2. Authors must clearly disclose any use of generative AI in the manuscript under a “Declaration of Generative AI in the Writing Process” section. Failure to provide accurate disclosure may result in manuscript rejection or retraction.  The disclosure must include name of the AI tool or service used, version of the tool (if available), and purpose and scope of AI use.

3. AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors because authorship requires accountability and intellectual responsibility that can only be fulfilled by humans.  All authors bear full responsibility for the integrity, accuracy, and originality of their manuscripts, including any content produced with AI assistance. Human oversight is mandatory at all stages of AI-assisted content preparation. 

4. The following restrictions apply to AI usage:

4.1 AI must not be used to generate, alter, or replace research findings.

4.2 AI must not fabricate references, citations, or research data.

4.3 AI must not be used to generate entire manuscripts. AI translation of full manuscripts is prohibited without substantial human scholarly input.

4.4 Authors must not upload confidential, proprietary, unpublished, or personal data into AI systems without proper authorization and compliance with applicable privacy and data protection regulations.