Artificial Intelligence policy
Journal of Biomedicine and Biochemistry (JBB) is committed to ensuring the integrity, transparency, and accountability of all published research. Given the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies, the journal adopts the following policy to regulate their use by authors, reviewers, and editors.
1. Use of AI by Authors
Authors may use generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools or Large Language Models (LLMs)—such as ChatGPT—solely to enhance language clarity, grammar, and readability, and only under full human oversight.
AI tools must not:
- Generate scientific content, interpretations, conclusions, or data.
- Replace critical thinking, analysis, or original scholarly contribution.
- Produce, modify, or manipulate data, images, or figures except in explicitly allowed cases .
Authors remain fully responsible for verifying the accuracy, validity, and originality of all submitted content.
Required Disclosure:
If AI or AI-assisted tools were used in the writing process, authors must include a disclosure statement in the Acknowledgments or Methodssection specifying:
- The name of the tool
- The purpose of use
- A statement confirming human oversight
Example:
“The authors used ChatGPT (OpenAI) to improve language clarity. All content was reviewed and verified by the authors, who remain fully responsible for the manuscript.”
No disclosure is required for the use of basic tools such as:
- Grammar checkers
- Spell checkers
- Reference managers
2. AI and Authorship
AI tools, including LLMs, cannot be listed as authors or co-authors. Authorship requires:
- Human accountability
- Intellectual contribution
- Ability to consent and take responsibility for the work
LLMs do not meet these criteria and therefore cannot qualify for authorship under JBB or international authorship standards (ICMJE/WAME).
3. AI-Generated Scientific Content
The journal prohibits the use of AI tools to:
- Generate or alter scientific results
- Produce literature reviews without verification
- Draft or modify hypotheses, interpretations, or conclusions
Any scientific content generated by AI without full human control constitutes a violation of research integrity and may lead to rejection or retraction.
4. Policy on AI-Generated Images and Figures
Given ongoing legal and ethical concerns related to AI-generated visual content, JBB adheres to strict guidelines:
Prohibited
- AI-generated images, figures, or diagrams intended to represent scientific data
- AI-created photographs or biological imagery
- Images with unclear copyright or unverifiable provenance
Allowed (with exceptions)
- Artwork or conceptual illustrations created with legally compliant tools, provided the authors retain rights and disclose their use
- AI-generated images in manuscripts specifically analyzing AI technologies, evaluated case-by-case
Machine Learning Tools
Non-generative AI used to:
- Enhance
- Filter
- Combine
- Adjust contrast or clarity of pre-existing images
is permitted only if disclosed in the figure legend and if original data remain intact and interpretable.
5. Use of AI by Peer Reviewers
To maintain confidentiality, editorial independence, and research integrity:
Peer reviewers are strictly prohibited from
- Uploading manuscripts or supplementary materials into generative AI tools
- Using external AI systems that store, process, or learn from submitted content
- Allowing AI to make evaluative or scientific judgments in the review process
AI tools may provide superficial assistance (e.g., grammar refinement), but only under reviewer control and without sharing confidential manuscript content.
Reviewer Disclosure
If AI tools contributed to any part of the review (e.g., for language assistance), the reviewer must disclose this in the confidential peer review report.
6. Editorial Use of AI
JBB editors may use AI tools internally to support:
- Language checks
- Technical screening
- Plagiarism detection
- Reference verification
AI will never be used to make editorial decisions, accept or reject articles, or evaluate scientific content.
7. Accountability
Authors, reviewers, and editors remain fully accountable for all content created with AI assistance, and for compliance with:
- COPE guidelines
- ICMJE authorship standards
- WAME recommendations
