AI Policy

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage Policy

ZIJEn (Zabags International Journal of Engagement) recognizes the growing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in research, writing, data analysis, and scholarly communication. This policy aims to ensure transparency, accountability, integrity, and ethical use of AI tools in the preparation, review, and publication of manuscripts.

This policy applies to authors, reviewers, and editors involved in the publication process.

1. AI Tools and Authorship

Artificial Intelligence tools, including but not limited to ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, DeepSeek, Midjourney, DALL-E, and similar technologies, cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of a manuscript.

Authorship requires accountability, responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the work, the ability to respond to editorial inquiries, and compliance with publication ethics. AI systems do not meet these requirements.

Only human contributors who satisfy the journal’s authorship criteria may be credited as authors.

2. Use of AI by Authors

Authors may use AI tools to assist in:

  • Language editing and grammar improvement;

  • Translation and readability enhancement;

  • Literature organization and summarization;

  • Coding assistance;

  • Data visualization support;

  • Research workflow management.

However, authors remain fully responsible for:

  • The accuracy of all content;

  • Verification of facts, references, and citations;

  • Interpretation of findings;

  • Originality of the manuscript;

  • Compliance with ethical and legal standards.

The use of AI does not transfer responsibility from the authors.

3. Mandatory Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose any significant use of AI tools during manuscript preparation.

The disclosure should be included in a dedicated section entitled:

"Declaration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use"

Example:

The authors used ChatGPT (OpenAI) to assist in language editing and manuscript organization. All generated content was reviewed, revised, and verified by the authors, who take full responsibility for the final version of the manuscript.

Failure to disclose significant AI usage may be considered a breach of publication ethics.

4. Prohibited Uses of AI

The following uses are not permitted:

  • Generating fabricated data or research results;

  • Creating false citations or references;

  • Producing manipulated images, figures, or evidence without disclosure;

  • Generating peer-review reports under a reviewer’s name without permission;

  • Creating misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent content;

  • Circumventing plagiarism detection or ethical review processes.

Any manuscript found to contain such practices may be rejected, corrected, retracted, or reported according to the journal’s publication ethics procedures.

5. AI-Generated Images, Figures, and Multimedia

If AI tools are used to generate, modify, enhance, or manipulate images, figures, graphics, audio, or video content, authors must clearly disclose:

  • The AI tool used;

  • The purpose of its use;

  • The extent of modification performed.

The editorial team may request original files, raw data, or additional documentation to verify authenticity.

Undisclosed AI-generated visual materials may constitute research misconduct.

6. AI Use in Research and Data Analysis

The use of AI for data processing, statistical analysis, coding support, or computational modeling is permitted when scientifically justified.

Authors must:

  • Describe the AI system or software used;

  • Explain its role in the methodology;

  • Provide sufficient information for reproducibility where applicable.

Editors may request further clarification regarding AI-assisted methodologies.

7. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers must not upload confidential manuscript content into public AI systems or third-party AI tools that may retain, store, or reuse submitted materials without authorization.

Reviewers remain responsible for producing independent, objective, and confidential evaluations.

AI tools may be used only for limited language assistance and must not replace the reviewer’s scholarly judgment.

8. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors shall maintain transparency and fairness when evaluating manuscripts involving AI-assisted content.

Editors may:

  • Request disclosure regarding AI use;

  • Seek clarification from authors;

  • Employ AI-detection or verification tools where appropriate;

  • Take editorial actions if undisclosed or unethical AI use is identified.

Editorial decisions will always be made by human editors and not by AI systems.

9. Compliance and Enforcement

Failure to comply with this policy may result in:

  • Manuscript rejection;

  • Publication correction;

  • Expression of concern;

  • Retraction of published articles;

  • Notification to affiliated institutions when appropriate.

The journal reserves the right to investigate suspected misuse of AI technologies in accordance with its Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement.

10. Policy Review

This policy may be updated periodically to reflect developments in artificial intelligence technologies, publication ethics standards, COPE recommendations, and scholarly publishing best practices.

Last updated: June 2026.