Artificial Intelligence Policy

The Journal of Design Service and Social Innovation (JDSSI) 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 JDSSI, ensuring transparency, accountability, and the integrity of published research.

Policy Statement

JDSSI 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 work is original and properly attributes sources
• Integrity: Maintaining ethical research and publication standards
• Quality: Meeting JDSSI'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

3. Human Oversight

AI tools may assist but cannot replace human judgment and expertise:

• All AI-generated content must be substantially revised and verified by authors
• Authors must critically evaluate and validate AI outputs
• Human authors must provide intellectual contribution and interpretation
• AI cannot be listed as an author (see Authorship section below)

Acceptable Uses of AI

The following uses of AI tools are acceptable with proper disclosure:

Literature Search and Organization

• Using AI to identify relevant literature
• Organizing and categorizing research papers
• Generating search queries
• Creating bibliographies (with human verification)

Requirement: Authors must verify all citations and ensure papers actually exist and are accurately referenced.

Language Editing and Grammar

• Grammar and spelling correction
• Sentence restructuring for clarity
• Improving readability and flow
• Translation assistance (with human verification)

Requirement: Editing must not change the meaning or content of the research. Authors remain responsible for accuracy.

Data Analysis and Visualization

• Statistical analysis using AI-powered tools
• Creating data visualizations and figures
• Pattern recognition in large datasets
• Computational modeling

Requirement: Methods must be clearly described, reproducible, and results verified. AI-generated figures must be clearly labeled.

Brainstorming and Ideation

• Generating research questions or hypotheses
• Exploring different perspectives on a topic
• Identifying potential research gaps
• Organizing thoughts and arguments

Requirement: Ideas generated by AI must be developed, evaluated, and validated by human authors.

Code Generation and Programming

• Writing code for data analysis or simulations
• Debugging and optimizing code
• Generating documentation for code

Requirement: All code must be tested, validated, and fully understood by authors. Include code availability statements.

Unacceptable Uses of AI

The following uses of AI are prohibited:

Fabricating Content

• Using AI to invent data, results, or findings
• Creating fake citations or references
• Generating fabricated quotes or interviews
• Inventing methodologies or procedures

Consequence: Fabrication constitutes research misconduct and will result in immediate rejection and potential institutional notification.

Plagiarism Through AI

• Using AI to paraphrase others' work without citation
• Submitting AI-generated summaries of others' research as original work
• Using AI to avoid proper attribution
• Generating content heavily based on copyrighted sources

Consequence: Plagiarism violations will be handled according to JDSSI's Plagiarism Policy.

Minimal Human Contribution

• Submitting largely AI-generated text with minimal human revision
• Using AI to write entire sections without substantial human input
• Relying on AI for critical analysis or interpretation without human evaluation
• Copying and pasting AI output directly into manuscripts

Consequence: Manuscripts lacking substantial human intellectual contribution will be rejected.

Circumventing Peer Review

• Using AI to generate responses to reviewer comments without genuinely addressing concerns
• Using AI to artificially inflate word count or complexity
• Generating misleading or deceptive content to meet publication criteria

Consequence: Deceptive practices will result in rejection and potential ban from future submissions.

Disclosure Requirements

Where to Disclose AI Use

Authors must disclose AI use in two locations:

1. Cover Letter (at submission):

"We used [AI tool name and version] to [describe specific use]. All AI-generated content was substantially revised, verified, and validated by the authors. We take full responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the manuscript."

2. Methods Section or Acknowledgments (in manuscript):

"[AI tool name, version] was used for [specific purpose, e.g., language editing, data visualization]. All outputs were reviewed, verified, and revised by the authors."

Disclosure Template

Use this format for AI disclosure:

What to Include in Disclosure

• Tool identification: Name and version (e.g., ChatGPT-4, Claude 3, Grammarly Premium)
• Specific use: What the tool was used for
• Extent of use: Which sections or aspects involved AI
• Verification process: How outputs were checked and validated
• Human contribution: How authors contributed intellectually

Examples of Proper Disclosure

Example 1 - Language Editing:

"Grammarly Premium was used to check grammar and improve the readability of this manuscript. All suggestions were reviewed and selectively accepted or rejected by the authors."

Example 2 - Data Visualization:

"Python libraries including Matplotlib and Seaborn (which incorporate machine learning algorithms) were used to create data visualizations in Figures 2-5. All figures were reviewed for accuracy against the raw data."

Example 3 - Literature Search:

"ChatGPT-4 (OpenAI, 2024) was used to generate initial search terms for the literature review. All identified papers were independently verified, read, and evaluated by the authors. All citations were checked for accuracy."

Example 4 - Multiple Uses:

"Claude 3 (Anthropic, 2024) was used for: (1) brainstorming potential research questions, (2) organizing thematic categories in the literature review, and (3) improving sentence clarity in the discussion section. All AI-generated content was substantially revised, and authors verified the accuracy of all statements and citations."

AI and Authorship

AI Cannot Be an Author

AI tools, chatbots, or algorithms cannot be listed as authors on manuscripts because:

• AI cannot take responsibility for the content
• AI cannot approve the final manuscript
• AI cannot respond to reviewers or make revisions
• AI cannot be held accountable for research integrity issues
• AI does not meet the criteria for authorship (see Ethical Principles Policy)

Human Authorship Requirements

All authors must:

• Make substantial intellectual contributions to the research
• Be able to explain and defend all aspects of the work
• Take responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the content
• Approve the final version for publication

Using AI does not diminish these requirements.

Verification and Quality Control

Author Responsibilities for AI-Assisted Content

When using AI tools, authors must:

• Verify accuracy: Check all facts, statistics, and statements
• Validate citations: Ensure all references exist and are accurately cited
• Check for plagiarism: Verify AI output doesn't contain plagiarized content
• Evaluate logic: Ensure arguments and reasoning are sound
• Confirm originality: Ensure work represents original contribution
• Test code: Verify all AI-generated code functions correctly
• Validate data: Ensure data analysis and visualizations are accurate

Known Issues with AI Tools

Authors should be aware of common AI limitations:

• Hallucinations: AI may invent facts, citations, or data
• Outdated information: AI knowledge may be limited to training data cutoff
• Bias: AI may reflect biases present in training data
• Lack of domain expertise: AI may make plausible-sounding but incorrect statements
• Copyright issues: AI output may inadvertently reproduce copyrighted material
• Inconsistency: AI may provide contradictory information

Peer Review and AI Use

Reviewers May Use AI Tools

Peer reviewers may use AI tools to assist with reviews, provided they:

• Maintain confidentiality of manuscript content
• Do not upload entire manuscripts to publicly accessible AI systems
• Take responsibility for all review comments
• Provide original critical evaluation, not AI-generated reviews

Detecting AI-Generated Content

JDSSI may use AI detection tools as part of quality control, but:

• Detection is not foolproof - tools may have false positives/negatives
• Editorial decisions consider multiple factors, not just AI detection
• Disclosed, appropriate AI use will not result in automatic rejection
• Undisclosed AI use may trigger further investigation

Consequences of Policy Violations

Undisclosed AI Use

If AI use is discovered but was not disclosed:

• 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 ban

Inappropriate AI Use

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

• Manuscript rejection
• Notification to authors' institutions
• Reporting to COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics)
• Potential ban from future submissions to JDSSI
• 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

Evolving Landscape

JDSSI 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 like COPE, ICMJE, and disciplinary societies

Last updated: February 2026

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, 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/grammar checking

Translation Tools

Examples: DeepL, Google Translate (neural network versions)

Acceptable uses: Translating text or checking translations

Requirements: Human verification of accuracy, disclosure of use, professional editing recommended

Research Assistants

Examples: Elicit, Consensus, Scite, Research Rabbit

Acceptable uses: Literature discovery, citation checking, research synthesis

Requirements: Verify all papers exist and are accurately described, read primary sources

Data Analysis and Coding

Examples: GitHub Copilot, TabNine, AI-powered statistical tools

Acceptable uses: Code generation, debugging, data analysis

Requirements: Full understanding and testing of code, clear documentation, reproducibility

Image Generation and Editing

Examples: DALL-E, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, AI-powered photo editors

Acceptable uses: Creating conceptual diagrams, enhancing figure clarity (without altering data)

Requirements: Clear labeling as AI-generated, no manipulation of research data images, disclosure

Resources and Support

For questions about AI use in your manuscript:

• Before submission: Contact jdssi-editor@michelangelo-scholar.com for guidance
• During revision: Editors can advise on appropriate disclosure
• General questions: Consult COPE guidelines on AI in publishing

Additional Resources

• Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE): https://publicationethics.org/ai
• International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE): Authorship and AI guidelines
• Responsible use of AI in research: Institution-specific guidelines

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JDSSI recognizes that AI tools can enhance research productivity and quality when used responsibly. This policy aims to ensure transparency, maintain research integrity, and protect the scholarly record while allowing authors to benefit from appropriate AI assistance. Authors are encouraged to contact the editorial office with questions about acceptable AI use in their specific research context.

Related Policies:

• Ethical Principles and Publication Policy
• Plagiarism Policy
• Copyright Policy
• Authorship Guidelines