Policy on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)

SRLS recognizes that generative AI tools, such as large language models and image generators, are increasingly part of research work. This policy explains how authors, reviewers, and editors may use them while keeping the published record accurate, transparent, and trustworthy.

1. For Authors

AI cannot be an author. Authorship carries accountability. That means approving the final manuscript, answering for its accuracy, and responding to questions after publication, and an AI tool can do none of these. AI tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors, and they must not be cited as authors in the reference list.

Permitted use. Authors may use AI tools to help with language, such as improving grammar, clarity, or readability, and for routine technical tasks such as formatting or checking code. Any AI-assisted text must be carefully reviewed and edited by the authors. It must also reflect the authors' own ideas, analysis, and conclusions.

Disclosure is required. If AI tools were used for anything beyond basic spelling and grammar correction, authors must say so in a statement placed before the References section, titled "Declaration of Generative AI Use." The statement should name the tool (and version, if known), describe what it was used for, and confirm that the authors checked and take responsibility for the output. For example:

During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [tool name] to improve the language of the Introduction and Discussion. The authors reviewed and edited all AI-assisted content and take full responsibility for the final text.

If AI was used as part of the research method itself, for example in data analysis, species identification, or sequence annotation, this must be described in detail in the Materials and Methods section so that the work can be reproduced.

Authors remain fully responsible. AI tools can produce text that sounds convincing but is wrong, biased, or unsupported, including references that do not exist. Authors are responsible for checking every fact, citation, and interpretation in their manuscript, whether or not AI was involved. Undisclosed use, or errors that come from AI output, will be treated as the authors' responsibility.

Data, images, and figures. Authors must not use generative AI to create, alter, or enhance research data, photographs, microscopy images, gel images, maps, or other figures that present scientific results. Standard adjustments to a whole image, such as brightness, contrast, or color balance, are acceptable as long as they do not hide or change any information in the original. AI-generated illustrations may be used only when they are clearly labeled and are not presented as research evidence.

2. For Reviewers

Manuscripts under review are confidential. Reviewers must not upload a manuscript, or any part of it, into a generative AI tool, because doing so may breach confidentiality and the authors' rights to their unpublished work. Reviewers also must not use AI to write or evaluate the scientific content of their review. The judgment in a review must be the reviewer's own. A reviewer may use a language tool only to polish the wording of a report they have already written, as long as no manuscript content is shared with the tool.

3. For Editors

Editors must keep submitted manuscripts, reviewer reports, and editorial correspondence confidential, and must not upload them into generative AI tools. Editorial decisions must come from the editors' own assessment of the manuscript and the reviews, not from AI-generated evaluations. SRLS may use approved tools to screen submissions for plagiarism, image manipulation, or AI-generated content. These tools only help the editors, and a human editor always makes the final decision.

4. Non-Compliance

If undisclosed or inappropriate AI use is suspected, before or after publication, SRLS will handle the case according to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Depending on the severity of the case, the outcome may be a request for clarification, a correction, rejection of the manuscript, or retraction of a published article.

5. Policy Updates

Generative AI is changing quickly, and SRLS will review and update this policy as needed. Authors should check the current version before submitting.