Generative AI Policy

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

The International Journal of Veterinary and Animal Research (IJVAR) recognizes the increasing use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies in academic research and scholarly publishing. The journal supports the responsible and transparent use of such technologies while maintaining the principles of research integrity, academic responsibility, transparency, and publication ethics.

Effective Date

This policy will apply to all manuscripts accepted for publication from 1 January 2027 onward.

Manuscripts submitted before this date may be processed according to the editorial policies applicable at the time of submission. However, authors are encouraged to disclose any substantive use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies whenever applicable.

Use of Generative AI by Authors

Authors may use generative AI or AI-assisted technologies for limited and appropriate purposes, including:

  • language editing and improvement;
  • grammar, spelling, and punctuation correction;
  • translation assistance;
  • improving readability and clarity;
  • assistance with manuscript organization or formatting.

The use of AI-assisted technologies must not replace the authors' scientific judgment, critical evaluation, or responsibility for the content of the manuscript.

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and ethical compliance of all submitted material, including content produced or modified with the assistance of AI.

Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose the use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies when such tools have been used substantially in the preparation of a manuscript.

The disclosure should identify:

  1. the name of the AI tool or technology used;
  2. the purpose for which it was used; and
  3. the relevant stage or section of manuscript preparation.

The disclosure should be included in the manuscript in an appropriate section, such as an “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Disclosure” statement.

For example:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Disclosure: During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [name of tool] for [specific purpose, e.g., language editing and improving readability]. The authors reviewed and edited the output and take full responsibility for the final content of the manuscript.

AI and Authorship

Generative AI tools, including large language models, cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to IJVAR.

Authorship requires accountability for the work, responsibility for the integrity of the research, and the ability to participate in the editorial process. These responsibilities cannot be assigned to an AI system.

All individuals who qualify for authorship must be identified as human authors and must meet the journal's authorship requirements.

Prohibited Uses

Generative AI must not be used to:

  • fabricate, generate, or manipulate research data;
  • fabricate or alter experimental results;
  • create, manipulate, or falsify scientific images or figures;
  • generate false or unverifiable references or citations;
  • misrepresent AI-generated content as original human-authored scientific work;
  • conceal substantive use of generative AI;
  • produce fraudulent reviewer reports or editorial correspondence;
  • or otherwise compromise research integrity or publication ethics.

Any inappropriate use of AI that results in fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or other forms of research misconduct may result in rejection, correction, retraction, or other editorial action in accordance with IJVAR's publication ethics policies.

AI-Assisted Images and Figures

Authors must disclose the use of generative AI tools in the creation or substantial modification of images, figures, illustrations, or other visual materials.

AI-generated or substantially AI-modified images must not be used when they could misrepresent experimental findings, research data, clinical observations, histological findings, diagnostic images, or other scientific evidence.

The journal may request information about the origin and preparation of images and may reject images that compromise the accuracy or integrity of the scientific record.

Responsibility and Verification

Authors are responsible for carefully reviewing all AI-generated or AI-assisted content. AI systems may produce inaccurate, biased, incomplete, or fabricated information. Authors must independently verify all factual statements, references, data, interpretations, and other scientific content before submission.

The use of generative AI does not reduce or transfer the authors' responsibility for the submitted manuscript.

Confidentiality

Authors and reviewers should not enter confidential, unpublished, proprietary, or personally identifiable information contained in manuscripts into publicly accessible generative AI systems or other AI tools unless the confidentiality and data-protection requirements of the relevant system are assured.

Reviewers must not use generative AI tools to evaluate or process confidential manuscripts without explicit authorization from the journal.

AI Use by Reviewers and Editors

Reviewers and editors may use AI-assisted technologies only in accordance with the journal's confidentiality, privacy, and publication ethics requirements.

Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and must not upload manuscript content, unpublished data, reviewer comments, or other confidential information to external AI systems.

AI tools may assist editorial work in limited circumstances, but editorial decisions and peer-review recommendations must ultimately be made by qualified human editors and reviewers.

Editorial Oversight

IJVAR reserves the right to request additional information or clarification regarding the use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies at any stage of the editorial and publication process.

The journal may take appropriate editorial action if undisclosed, inappropriate, or unethical use of generative AI is identified.

This policy may be updated periodically in response to developments in artificial intelligence, research integrity standards, and international scholarly publishing practices.