This policy applies to authors, editors, reviewers, and other individuals involved in the editorial and publication process of JIMP. It covers the use of generative AI, large language models, AI-assisted writing tools, AI-based image generation, automated coding assistants, translation tools, and other AI-enabled technologies used in preparing, reviewing, or processing scholarly manuscripts.

Authors may use AI-assisted tools responsibly for activities such as:

• Language improvement and grammar correction;
• Translation assistance;
• Improving clarity and readability of academic writing;
• Organizing ideas or manuscript structure;
• Assisting with coding or computational tasks;
• Supporting data organization or analysis where methodologically appropriate;
• Generating preliminary suggestions that are subsequently evaluated and verified by the authors.

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, interpretation, and scholarly quality of all material included in their manuscripts, regardless of whether AI-assisted tools were used during manuscript preparation.

• Authors must verify all AI-assisted content before submission;
• Authors must ensure factual and methodological accuracy;
• Authors must verify all citations and references independently;
• Authors must ensure compliance with copyright and publication ethics;
• Authors remain accountable for errors or misconduct arising from AI-generated content.

Artificial intelligence systems, chatbots, large language models, and other automated tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of articles published in JIMP. Authorship requires intellectual responsibility, accountability, approval of the final manuscript, and responsibility for the integrity of the work, which must remain with human authors.

Authors should disclose substantial use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies when such tools materially contribute to manuscript preparation, analysis, interpretation, coding, or other research-related activities.

The disclosure should identify the AI tool used and briefly describe how it was used. Routine spelling, grammar, or basic language correction does not normally require extensive methodological disclosure unless the use materially affects the scholarly content.

AI tools must not be used in ways that compromise research or publication integrity. Unacceptable practices include:

• Fabricating or falsifying research data;
• Generating fictitious research results;
• Inventing references, citations, quotations, or DOI information;
• Misrepresenting AI-generated material as independently produced research findings;
• Generating misleading interpretations of research data;
• Using AI to conceal plagiarism or inappropriate text reuse;
• Manipulating images or research evidence in a misleading manner;
• Using AI in ways that violate copyright, confidentiality, privacy, or research ethics.

Authors must independently verify all references suggested or generated by AI tools. References included in manuscripts must correspond to authentic and retrievable scholarly sources. Fabricated authors, article titles, journal names, publication details, URLs, or DOI numbers are considered unacceptable.

AI-generated or AI-assisted images, figures, illustrations, or other visual materials must not be used to misrepresent research findings or alter primary research evidence. Where AI-generated visual material is used for legitimate illustrative purposes, its use should be disclosed when appropriate.

Authors remain responsible for ensuring that all visual material complies with applicable copyright, licensing, research integrity, and ethical requirements.

When AI systems are used as part of data processing, classification, analysis, coding, prediction, modeling, or other substantive research procedures, authors should describe the use sufficiently in the manuscript to support methodological transparency and reproducibility.

Authors must exercise caution when entering confidential, sensitive, personal, proprietary, or unpublished information into third-party AI systems. The use of AI tools must not violate obligations relating to privacy, informed consent, data protection, confidentiality, or intellectual property.

Editors and reviewers have a duty to protect the confidentiality of unpublished manuscripts. Manuscript content, reviewer reports, author information, or other confidential editorial material should not be uploaded to external generative AI systems where confidentiality, privacy, or data handling cannot be adequately protected.

AI tools must not replace the independent scholarly judgment of editors or reviewers. Editorial and peer-review decisions must ultimately be made by qualified human editors and reviewers.

If inappropriate or undisclosed AI use raises concerns regarding the reliability, originality, authorship, confidentiality, or integrity of a manuscript, the Editorial Team may investigate the matter and take appropriate editorial action.

Depending on the nature and seriousness of the issue, such action may include requesting clarification or revision, rejecting the manuscript, or taking appropriate post-publication action in accordance with the journal's publication ethics, correction, and retraction policies.