Policy on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Policy on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The scientific journals published by the Editorial of the Universitat Rovira i Virgili are committed to scientific integrity and transparency in the use of artificial intelligence (AI). This policy defines clear guidelines on the proper use of AI tools for authors, reviewers, and editors.
According to COPE guidelines and best practices in the scientific community:

• AI tools cannot be recognized as authors, as they cannot assume responsibility for scientific content.
• They also cannot autonomously manage conflicts of interest, copyright, or ethical decision-making.

Use of AI by the authors

• Usage statement: authors must explicitly declare the use of any AI tools in the writing or analysis of their manuscripts. They must specify the software used, the functions performed, and the specific sections of the manuscript where AI was employed.
• Responsibility for originality: the authors assume full responsibility for ensuring the originality of any AI-generated or AI-assisted content. Such content must not infringe on third-party rights or involve plagiarism.
• AI-assisted content review: authors must carefully review and verify all AI-generated content to avoid biases, errors, or inaccuracies.

Use of AI in peer review

• Statement on the use of AI by reviewers: if reviewers use AI to assist in the evaluation of manuscripts, they must disclose its use. AI can serve as a complementary tool, but the final evaluation and critical judgment must be carried out by the reviewer.
• Manuscript evaluation: AI should not replace the reviewer's responsibility in scientific evaluation. The peer review process should be predominantly driven by humans, and AI should only play a supportive role.

Use of AI by the Editorial Team

The editorial team can use AI tools for administrative and editing tasks, such as manuscript formatting or plagiarism detection. However, all AI-assisted processes must undergo rigorous human oversight to ensure quality and consistency.

Ethical considerations in the use of AI

The use of AI should never result in data manipulation, plagiarism, or violations of intellectual property. Any misuse of AI, whether intentional or accidental, will be addressed following COPE guidelines and the editor's ethical standards.

Evaluation and updating of policies

This policy will be reviewed periodically to align it with technological advancements in AI and the evolution of best practices in scientific publishing.

Consequences of non-compliance

Failure to comply with this policy may result in the rejection of the manuscript, withdrawal, or prohibition of future submissions to UTE Teaching & Technology (Universitas Tarraconensis), following the procedures established by the Editorial of the Universitat Rovira i Virgili.