Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage Policy

NTU Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage Policy

The NTU Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences (NTU-JAVS) upholds the highest academic integrity, originality, and ethical practices in agricultural and veterinary research. Recognising the growing incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) tools into academic workflows, this policy outlines acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI for authors, reviewers, and editors involved in the publication process.

For Authors

Permitted Uses of AI:

Authors may utilise AI tools to assist with specific, non-substantive aspects of manuscript preparation, aiming to enhance the clarity and quality of their work.

  • Language and Style Enhancement: AI tools can assist with grammar correction, language refinement, and stylistic improvements to ensure clear and coherent writing. However, authors bear full responsibility for verifying the accuracy of all AI-suggested changes and for maintaining the scientific integrity of the text.
  • Illustrative Examples: AI-generated examples may be incorporated for clarification or illustration, provided they are clearly identified and appropriately cited to acknowledge their origin. The relevance and accuracy of these examples to the agricultural or veterinary context are the authors' sole responsibility.
  • Data Analysis Support: AI tools can assist in analysing data obtained through established agricultural and veterinary research methodologies. The methodology section must describe the AI tools used, the parameters applied, and the rationale for their use, ensuring transparency and reproducibility within the specific context of agricultural and veterinary science.

Prohibited Uses of AI:

Authors are strictly prohibited from using AI tools to generate substantive content.

  • Authorship and Core Content Creation: AI tools must not be used to generate abstracts, literature reviews, methodologies, results, or conclusions. The intellectual contribution and scientific interpretation must be the authors' original work, grounded in agricultural and veterinary expertise.
  • Data Generation or Manipulation: Using AI to fabricate, simulate, or manipulate data, statistical analyses, or research findings is strictly forbidden. All reported data must originate from authentic and verifiable research relevant to agriculture and veterinary sciences.
  • Image and Visual Creation: Generating images, figures, or visualisations using AI is not permitted due to concerns about authenticity and ethical standards in scholarly publishing within the agricultural and veterinary fields.

Disclosure Requirement:

Authors must transparently disclose any use of AI tools in their manuscript. The Acknowledgements section should include a disclosure statement, specifying the tools used and their purpose. For example: "This manuscript was proofread using (Mention the AI tools used)  for grammar and clarity enhancement."

 

For Reviewers:

Permitted Uses of AI:

Reviewers may employ AI tools to enhance the efficiency and clarity of their review reports.

  • Language and Formatting Refinement: AI can assist in improving the language, grammar, and formatting of the review report to ensure clear and effective communication.
  • Reference Verification and Basic Fact-Checking: AI tools may verify references or confirm basic factual information within the submitted manuscript.

Prohibited Uses of AI:

Reviewers must not use AI tools to assess the intellectual merit or generate substantial portions of their review commentary.

  • Substantive Evaluation: The evaluation of the manuscript's scientific accuracy, originality, and significance within the agricultural and veterinary sciences must be based solely on the reviewer's expertise and critical analysis.
  • Confidentiality: Reviewers are strictly prohibited from uploading or disclosing any part of the manuscript to AI tools, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of the review process.

Responsibilities:

Reviewers are responsible for identifying and reporting any suspected misuse of AI tools by authors, including AI-generated content or fabricated data, to the editorial team. They must also uphold strict confidentiality throughout the review process.

 

For Editors

Permitted Uses of AI

Editors may use AI tools to improve efficiency when performing administrative tasks.

  • Editorial Workflow Optimisation: AI can streamline editorial processes and track manuscript progress.
  • Communication Enhancement: AI tools may improve the clarity of editorial communications, such as decision letters and reviewer invitations.

Prohibited Uses of AI

Editors must not use AI tools to make substantive editorial decisions or assess the intellectual merit of submissions.

  • Substantive Editorial Decisions: Decisions regarding manuscript acceptance or rejection must be based on the editor's expert judgment and the reviewers' evaluations within the context of agricultural and veterinary science.
  • Content Generation for Editorial Correspondence: AI should not be used to generate content for editorial letters or other correspondence without human oversight and validation.

 

Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for ensuring adherence to this AI usage policy, verifying author disclosures, and addressing any ethical concerns arising from AI use. They must also ensure the peer review process remains rigorous and unbiased by AI-generated content and guide reviewers on ethical AI usage.

Ethical Considerations for All Parties

All individuals involved in the publication process (authors, reviewers, and editors) must know the potential for "AI hallucination," where AI tools generate inaccurate or fabricated information. Therefore, critical evaluation and verification are essential for all AI-assisted content. Furthermore, AI must adhere to ethical standards, including data privacy, informed consent (where applicable in agricultural and veterinary research involving animals or stakeholders), and identifying and mitigating potential biases in AI-generated content.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with this AI policy can lead to serious consequences. For authors, this may include manuscript rejection or retraction. Reviewers may be removed from the reviewer pool. Editors may face investigation and disciplinary actions.

 

Commitment to Ethical AI Use

The NTU-JAVS is committed to promoting AI's ethical and responsible use in scholarly publishing related to agriculture and veterinary science. By following this policy, authors, reviewers, and editors work together to uphold the integrity, rigour, and reliability of the research published in our field, for additional guidance on using AI and AI-assisted technologies in scientific writing within agriculture and veterinary sciences.