Artificial Intelligence Policy

Design History (DH) recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly used in research and academic writing. This policy provides clear guidelines on the acceptable use of AI technologies in manuscripts submitted to DH, ensuring transparency, accountability, and the integrity of published research.

Policy Statement

DH permits the responsible use of AI tools in the research and writing process, provided that:

• Authors maintain full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their work.
• All use of AI tools is properly disclosed.
• AI-generated content is substantially revised and verified by human authors.
• The use of AI does not compromise research ethics or academic integrity.

Core Principles

1. Author Accountability

Authors bear complete responsibility for all content in their manuscripts, regardless of whether AI tools were used. This includes:

• Accuracy: Verifying all facts, data, citations, and statements.
• Originality: Ensuring the work is original and properly attributes all sources.
• Integrity: Maintaining ethical research and publication standards.
• Quality: Meeting DH’s standards for scholarly work.

Important: Using AI tools does not diminish author responsibility. Authors cannot claim “the AI made an error” as justification for inaccuracies, plagiarism, or fabricated content.

2. Transparency and Disclosure

Full disclosure of AI use is mandatory. Authors must clearly document:

• Which AI tools were used (name and version).
• How AI tools were used in the research or writing process.
• Which sections or aspects of the manuscript involved AI assistance.
• How AI-generated content was verified and validated.

Disclosure must be included in the “Declarations” or “Acknowledgments” section of the manuscript. A sample disclosure statement: “The authors used [AI Tool Name, Version] for [specific purpose, e.g., language editing, data visualization]. All AI-assisted content was reviewed and verified by the authors, who take full responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the manuscript.”

3. Authorship

AI tools and systems may not be listed as authors or co-authors on any manuscript submitted to the journal. Authorship requires the ability to take public responsibility for the content, to consent to publication, and to be accountable for the work—requirements that AI systems cannot fulfill. All authors listed on a manuscript must be natural persons who have made substantive intellectual contributions.

Acceptable Uses of AI

AI tools may be used for the following purposes, provided that all output is verified by the authors:

• Literature Search and Organization: Using AI to identify, categorize, and organize relevant scholarly literature.
• Data Analysis and Visualization: Employing AI-assisted tools for statistical analysis, pattern recognition, or data visualization, provided that methods are clearly described and results are validated.
• Language Editing and Grammar: Using AI-powered tools for grammar correction, style improvement, and readability enhancement, particularly for non-native English speakers.
• Translation Assistance: Using AI translation tools to assist with translating content, provided that the translated text is carefully reviewed for accuracy.
• Coding and Computational Analysis: Using AI to assist with writing or debugging code for research analysis.
• Generating Initial Drafts for Revision: Using AI to generate preliminary text that is then substantially revised, restructured, and validated by the authors.

Prohibited Uses of AI

The following uses of AI are strictly prohibited:

• Fabrication: Using AI to generate fabricated data, results, references, or any other research content presented as genuine.
• Plagiarism: Using AI to paraphrase, rewrite, or disguise content from existing sources without proper attribution.
• Minimal Human Contribution: Submitting AI-generated content that has not been substantially revised, critically evaluated, and verified by the authors.
• Falsification of Images or Data: Using AI to manipulate images, figures, or datasets in ways that misrepresent research findings.
• Fabrication of References: Using AI to generate citations or references that do not correspond to real, verifiable sources.
• Undisclosed Use: Using AI tools without proper disclosure in the manuscript.
• Circumventing Peer Review: Using AI to generate reviewer responses, fabricate peer review reports, or manipulate the review process.

AI in Peer Review

Reviewers and editors must also adhere to ethical standards regarding AI use:

• Reviewers must not upload manuscript content to AI tools or platforms, as this violates the confidentiality of the peer review process.
• Reviewers must not use AI to generate review reports. Reviews must reflect the reviewer’s own expert assessment.
• Editors must not use AI to make publication decisions. AI tools may be used as supplementary aids, but editorial judgment must remain with qualified human editors.

Detection and Review

DH employs multiple methods to identify undisclosed or inappropriate AI use:

• Plagiarism detection software that identifies AI-generated content patterns.
• Editorial review for stylistic indicators of AI-generated text.
• Reviewer expertise in identifying content inconsistencies.
• Verification of references and data for AI-generated fabrications.

All detections are evaluated by the editorial team on a case-by-case basis. The editorial team considers multiple factors, not just automated detection scores. Disclosed, appropriate AI use will not result in automatic rejection. Undisclosed AI use may trigger further investigation.

Consequences of Policy Violations

Undisclosed AI Use

• Minor use (e.g., grammar checking): Warning and request to add disclosure.
• Substantial use without disclosure: Rejection with opportunity to resubmit with proper disclosure.
• Deceptive use (fabrication, plagiarism): Immediate rejection, institutional notification, potential submission ban.

Inappropriate AI Use

For prohibited uses of AI (fabrication, plagiarism, minimal human contribution):

• Manuscript rejection.
• Notification to authors’ institutions.
• Reporting to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
• Potential ban from future submissions to DH.
• Retraction if discovered after publication.

Post-Publication Discovery

If inappropriate AI use is discovered after publication:

• Investigation according to COPE guidelines.
• Correction or retraction as appropriate.
• Notification to indexing services.
• Notification to authors’ institutions.

Guidance for Specific AI Tools

Large Language Models (LLMs)

Examples: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot.

Acceptable uses: Brainstorming, literature organization, language editing, generating initial drafts for revision.

Requirements: Substantial human revision, verification of all facts and citations, full disclosure of use.

Grammar and Writing Assistants

Examples: Grammarly, ProWritingAid, Hemingway Editor.

Acceptable uses: Grammar correction, style improvement, readability enhancement.

Requirements: Disclose if AI-powered features are used beyond basic spelling and grammar checking.

AI-Powered Research Tools

Examples: Elicit, Semantic Scholar AI, Connected Papers, Research Rabbit.

Acceptable uses: Literature discovery, research mapping, citation analysis.

Requirements: Verify all AI-suggested sources independently. Do not cite sources you have not read.

AI Image and Figure Generation

Examples: DALL-E, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion.

Acceptable uses: Generating illustrative or conceptual images where explicitly labeled as AI-generated. Use is subject to DH’s figure and image guidelines.

Prohibited: Generating images that misrepresent data, fabricate evidence, or are presented as original photographs, scans, or documentation of real artifacts or sites.

Statistical and Analytical AI Tools

Examples: AI-powered features in SPSS, R, Python (scikit-learn, TensorFlow).

Acceptable uses: Data analysis, pattern recognition, model building.

Requirements: Clearly describe methods, validate results, ensure reproducibility, and disclose AI assistance.

Reviewer and Editor Responsibilities

Reviewers should evaluate whether:

• AI use is properly disclosed in the manuscript.
• The level of AI involvement is appropriate.
• AI-generated content has been adequately verified.
• The authors demonstrate sufficient understanding and ownership of the work.
• References and data appear genuine and verifiable.

If reviewers suspect undisclosed or inappropriate AI use, they should report their concerns to the editor in the “Comments to the Editor” section.

Evolving Landscape

DH acknowledges that AI technology and its applications in research are rapidly evolving. This policy will be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect:

• New developments in AI technology.
• Emerging best practices in scholarly publishing.
• Community feedback from authors, reviewers, and editors.
• Guidelines from organizations such as COPE, ICMJE, and relevant disciplinary societies.

Last updated: February 2026

Contact

For questions about this policy or the acceptable use of AI tools in your research, please contact the editorial office at dh@michelangelo-scholar.com.

This policy is informed by the guidelines and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). For further information: https://publicationethics.org