Generative AI Policy

Purpose

DAAR EL-IBTIKAR: Journal of Business, Economics and Accounting recognizes that Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI) technologies can assist authors, reviewers, and editors in improving the efficiency of scholarly communication. However, the use of AI must never compromise academic integrity, transparency, originality, or ethical research practices.

This policy establishes the acceptable use of Generative AI in the preparation, review, and publication of manuscripts submitted to the journal.

1. Use of Generative AI by Authors

Authors may use Generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, Grammarly AI, or similar technologies) to assist with:

  • Improving grammar, spelling, and language quality.

  • Enhancing readability and writing style.

  • Translating manuscripts.

  • Organizing ideas or outlines.

  • Formatting references or citations.

  • Generating programming code for data analysis, provided that the code is verified by the authors.

The use of AI must always remain under the full supervision and responsibility of the authors.

2. Author Responsibility

Authors remain fully responsible for:

  • The originality of the manuscript.

  • The accuracy of all facts, analyses, interpretations, and conclusions.

  • Verification of any AI-generated content before submission.

  • Ensuring that no fabricated, misleading, or inaccurate information generated by AI is included in the manuscript.

  • Compliance with research ethics and publication ethics.

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

3. Disclosure of AI Use

If Generative AI has been used beyond basic language editing or spelling correction, authors must disclose its use in the manuscript.

The disclosure should include:

  • The name of the AI tool.

  • The purpose of its use.

  • The extent of its contribution.

An example disclosure statement is:

The authors used ChatGPT (OpenAI) to improve the language and readability of the manuscript. All scientific content, analysis, interpretation, and conclusions were independently verified and approved by the authors.

Editors may request additional information regarding the use of AI if necessary.

4. AI Cannot Be an Author

Generative AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors because they cannot:

  • Take responsibility for the published work.

  • Approve the final manuscript.

  • Declare conflicts of interest.

  • Hold copyright.

  • Meet internationally accepted authorship criteria.

Only humans who satisfy accepted authorship requirements may be listed as authors.

5. Unacceptable Uses of Generative AI

The following practices are strictly prohibited:

  • Generating fabricated research data.

  • Fabricating references or citations.

  • Creating false figures, tables, or statistical results without disclosure.

  • Producing fake peer-review reports.

  • Manipulating research findings.

  • Plagiarizing AI-generated content.

  • Using AI to impersonate human participants or reviewers.

  • Using AI to generate fraudulent or misleading scientific claims.

Any confirmed misuse may result in rejection, retraction, or other editorial actions.

6. Use of AI in Images and Figures

Authors must not use Generative AI to create, alter, or manipulate research images, figures, graphs, or visual evidence in a manner that misrepresents research findings.

AI-generated illustrations may only be included when they are clearly identified as illustrative materials and are not presented as actual research data.

7. Use of AI by Reviewers

Peer reviewers must not upload confidential manuscripts or any part of submitted manuscripts into publicly available Generative AI systems or AI services that may store, reuse, or learn from submitted content.

Reviewers are responsible for maintaining confidentiality throughout the peer-review process.

AI may only be used for minor language assistance provided that manuscript confidentiality is fully protected.

8. Use of AI by Editors

Editors may use AI tools to support editorial tasks such as:

  • Language editing.

  • Checking consistency.

  • Improving administrative efficiency.

However, editorial decisions—including manuscript acceptance, rejection, revisions, and ethical evaluations—shall always be made exclusively by human editors.

9. AI Detection

The Editorial Office reserves the right to use AI-detection tools and similarity-checking software to evaluate submitted manuscripts when necessary.

Where concerns arise regarding undisclosed AI-generated content or potential misuse, authors may be asked to provide clarification, supporting documentation, original data, or earlier manuscript drafts.

10. Ethical Compliance

The use of Generative AI must always comply with the journal's:

  • Publication Ethics

  • Peer Review Policy

  • Copyright Policy

  • Plagiarism Policy

  • COPE Principles

Failure to comply with this policy may result in:

  • Manuscript rejection;

  • Withdrawal during editorial processing;

  • Retraction after publication;

  • Notification to the authors' institution when serious misconduct is identified.

11. Policy Updates

As Generative AI technologies continue to evolve rapidly, DAAR EL-IBTIKAR: Journal of Business, Economics and Accounting reserves the right to revise and update this policy periodically to reflect emerging ethical standards, technological developments, and international best practices in scholarly publishing.