Use of generative artificial intelligence and AI tools

Principles of use of generative artificial intelligence and AI tools in review procedure of Statistika: Statistics and Economy Journal

Executive Council of the Statistics and Economy Journal takes into consideration the importance of generative artificial intelligence and tools of artificial intelligence (hereinafter only “AI tools“) for scientists. These tools and technologies, if used responsibly, may offer authors of scientific texts an easier orientation in resource library and enable them to make synthesis of existing approaches to a specific issue, improve the quality of a respective document (translation, text procession, stylistics, readability, etc.) and may also improve clarity and information handling ability of charts. It pays that AI tools should improve rather than replace human creative activity.

It is therefore necessary that all participants to review procedure while using AI tools should respect certain rules. These principles will be regularly reviewed and, if necessary, updated by Executive Council.

Principles of AI tools use to be respected by authors

1. Authors may use AI tools to improve the quality of a text from the aspect of language correctness, fluency, comprehensibility, stylistics and readability These tools are not required to be declared.
2. Other than the above use of Al tools must be declared in a separate statement once an article is sent to editorial department. At the end of the article (prior to the reference library) statement of authors must be appended as “Declaration of Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process“, where the applied AI tool, purpose, manner and scope of its use (see the Declaration) are specified.
3. Use of AI tools in a standout scientific work must also be stated in that part of an article where methods of analyse are specified.
4. AI tools should not be used for processing of charts or pictures which make part of an article.
5. AI tools may neither be declared as co-authors nor presented as a source used.
6. Partial outcome generated by AI tools must not be uploaded into an article unless duly reviewed by author (or co-authors).
7. While using AI tools for research of literature an author (or co-authors) is/are obliged to check the citation on the primary source and is/are accountable for declaration stating that the content of an article/book complies with reality.
8. Author (co-authors) holds primary accountability for quality, originality and reality compliance of final wording of an article. 

Principles of AI tools use to be respected by reviewers

1. Reviewer bears full responsibility for the content of review and is expected to comply with  principles of review process of the Statistics and Economy Journal.
2. AI tools cannot be used for assessment and formulation of outcomes, i.e. appraisal of scientific quality of an article in question.
3. Manuscript which is subject to review represents the author’s (co-authors‘) intellectual property  and should not be uploaded into any AI tool.
4. The wording of a review contains confidential information and must not be therefore uploaded into any AI tool.
5. The reviewer should consider in assessing scientific quality of an article the information stated by author (co-authors) in “Declaration of Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process“.
6. The reviewer has the duty to report to editor any potential breach of the above principles committed by an author (co-authors).

Principles of AI tools use to be respected by editor

1. Editor must not upload manuscripts, reviews not even decisions of Executive Council of the Statistics and Economy Journal into any AI tool.
2. Decision on acceptance/refusal of an article for publication is issued solely by Executive Council of the Statistics and Economy Journal, and always without using AI tools.
3. Editor may use AI tools for search of suitable reviewer – in compliance with principle ad 1).
4. Editor checks the content and completeness of “Declaration of Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process“.
5. Anything that is found to be in potential breach of the above principles of AI use by authors or reviewers is reported to editor at the Executive Council of the journal.

Required content of declaration on AI tool use

Declaration of Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process should include namely the following:

1. Name of AI tools used (type of a model or version) and the provider thereof,  
2. Specification of what was uploaded into AI tools (e.g. text, data, code, pictures),
3. Purpose and scope of AI tools use (text edition, draft structure of an article, analysis, generation of literature, summary of an article), 
4. How it was confirmed and verified that outcomes generated by AI tools are correct and that any citation complies with primary sources.  

All participants to review procedure should respect and follow the above principles.

Authors are required to read our Publication Ethics rules (i.e. Authors responsibilities) and respect them.