ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) POLICY

Educatio Christi recognizes that Artificial Intelligence (AI), including generative AI and AI-assisted technologies, can support researchers and authors in conducting research and preparing scholarly manuscripts. However, the use of AI must be responsible, transparent, and consistent with academic integrity and publication ethics.

This policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, and all other participants in the publication process.

1. Authors' Responsibility

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and ethical standards of their manuscripts, regardless of whether AI or AI-assisted tools have been used.

AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors because they cannot assume responsibility for the content, research integrity, authorship, or final approval of a manuscript.

Authors are responsible for verifying all information, arguments, quotations, citations, references, data, and other content generated or assisted by AI. AI-generated information must not be presented as factual without appropriate verification.

The use of AI does not exempt authors from compliance with the journal's policies on plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, copyright, research ethics, and conflicts of interest.

2. Permitted Use of AI

Authors may use AI or AI-assisted tools for legitimate purposes such as:

• language improvement and proofreading;

• grammar and spelling correction;

• translation;

• improving clarity and readability;

• assisting with data analysis or research processes, where scientifically appropriate;

• generating or analysing data or other research materials when such use is itself part of the research and is appropriately disclosed.

The use of AI must not replace the author's intellectual contribution, critical reasoning, scholarly judgment, or responsibility for the research.

3. Disclosure of AI Use in Research

When AI or AI-assisted tools are used as part of the research process, including data generation, data collection, data analysis, interpretation, or the production of research materials, authors must clearly disclose this use in the Methodology/Research Methods section of the manuscript.

The disclosure should explain, where relevant:

1. the name of the AI tool;

2. the version of the tool, when available;

3. the purpose of its use;

4. how the tool was used; and

5. the role of the AI tool in the research process.

Authors should provide sufficient information to allow readers to understand the role of AI in the research.

4. AI-Assisted Writing and Editing

AI tools may be used to assist with language editing, proofreading, translation, and improving the readability of a manuscript.

Authors remain responsible for the final text and must carefully review all AI-assisted content before submission.

Authors must ensure that AI-assisted writing does not result in:

• plagiarism or unattributed use of another person's work;

• fabricated or inaccurate references;

• fabricated quotations or citations;

• misleading claims;

• inappropriate paraphrasing;

• copyright infringement; or

• concealment of the actual source of information.

The use of AI to improve language or presentation does not transfer authorship or intellectual responsibility to the AI system.

5. AI-Generated Content, Data, Images, and Other Materials

AI-generated text, data, images, figures, or other materials may only be included when their use is academically justified, ethically appropriate, and relevant to the research.

Authors must disclose the use of AI-generated materials when such materials constitute part of the research, evidence, data, analysis, or substantive content of the manuscript.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that the use of AI-generated materials does not violate copyright, intellectual property rights, privacy, confidentiality, or other applicable ethical requirements.

6. Prohibited Use of AI

Authors must not use AI tools to:

• fabricate or falsify research data or findings;

• generate false references or sources;

• manipulate research results;

• create misleading evidence;

• conceal plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct; or

• replace substantive scholarly work and intellectual contribution.

Any suspected misuse of AI may be investigated by the editorial team in accordance with the journal's publication ethics and relevant COPE guidance.

7. AI and Peer Review

Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts throughout the peer review process.

Reviewers must not upload, copy, paste, or otherwise submit any part of an unpublished manuscript to generative AI or other external AI platforms for analysis, summarization, evaluation, translation, or preparation of a review report.

Reviewers remain responsible for the confidentiality, objectivity, and integrity of their review.

If a reviewer uses an AI-assisted tool in preparing a review, the reviewer must disclose such use to the editor. The editor may determine whether the use is acceptable in the circumstances.

8. AI and Editorial Decision-Making

Editors may use appropriate technological tools, including AI-assisted tools, to support administrative or editorial processes, such as similarity screening, language checking, or other quality-control activities.

However, editorial decisions must remain under human responsibility. AI tools must not independently determine whether a manuscript is accepted, rejected, or published.

Editors must also ensure that the use of AI does not compromise manuscript confidentiality, author rights, or the fairness of the editorial process.

9. Transparency and Verification

Educatio Christi may request clarification from authors concerning the use of AI or AI-assisted technologies when necessary.

The editorial team may use appropriate tools or procedures to identify potential plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate use of AI.

Failure to disclose relevant AI use, particularly when AI has materially contributed to the research or substantive content of a manuscript, may constitute a breach of publication ethics and may affect the editorial decision.

10. Final Principle

The fundamental principle of this policy is that AI may assist scholarly work, but it cannot replace human authorship, scholarly judgment, or academic responsibility.

By submitting a manuscript to Educatio Christi, authors confirm that the manuscript represents their own scholarly contribution and that any relevant use of AI or AI-assisted technologies has been used responsibly, ethically, and transparently.

Educatio Christi may update this policy as AI technologies, scholarly practices, and international publication-ethics standards develop.