Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Regional Studies Journal (RSJ) is committed to the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in scientific research and academic publishing, in order to preserve the originality and integrity of scholarly work and ensure authors’ responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of their manuscripts.

1. Use of AI by Authors

Authors may use AI tools to support research and academic writing, including improving language and style, proofreading, organizing text, or assisting with data analysis and information exploration. However, authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and scientific integrity of their manuscripts.

AI tools must not be used to fabricate data, results, or references; distort information; conceal sources; infringe intellectual property rights; or otherwise violate principles of academic integrity.

2. Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must clearly disclose any substantial use of AI tools in the preparation of a manuscript, particularly when such use has significantly contributed to text generation, data analysis, or the production of results or other scientific materials.

Disclosure should include the name of the tool or system used, the nature of its use, and the stage of the work in which it was applied, where appropriate.

Routine or limited uses, such as proofreading or correcting spelling and grammar, do not require separate disclosure unless otherwise specified by the journal or unless the nature of the use makes disclosure appropriate.

3. Authors’ Responsibility

Authors remain fully responsible for all content of their manuscripts, including text, data, analyses, results, conclusions, and references. Authors must verify the accuracy of information generated by AI tools, which may produce errors, fabricated references, or misleading content.

AI systems or tools cannot be considered authors or co-authors and must not be listed as authors of a manuscript.

4. Originality and Academic Integrity

The use of AI does not, in itself, constitute plagiarism. However, using AI to generate content without appropriate verification, failing to disclose its use when disclosure is required, or using AI to fabricate data, references, or results may constitute a breach of academic integrity.

All manuscripts are subject to the journal’s policies on plagiarism, textual similarity, and academic integrity. RSJ does not rely solely on numerical similarity scores or automated AI-detection tools as the basis for accepting or rejecting a manuscript.

5. Use of AI in Peer Review

Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts and related materials and must not input manuscripts or any part thereof into public AI tools or platforms that may store, use, or disclose research content without authorization.

Peer review reports must be based on the reviewer’s independent scholarly judgment and must not rely on AI-generated outputs as a substitute for such judgment.

6. Use of AI by the Editorial Board

The Editorial Board may use AI tools for administrative or supportive editorial tasks, provided that manuscript confidentiality and author and reviewer data are protected.

AI tools must not replace human evaluation, editing, or scholarly judgment. Editorial decisions remain the responsibility of the Editorial Board and are made independently on the basis of scientific merit, journal policies, and peer review outcomes.

7. Data Protection and Confidentiality

AI tools must not be used in ways that disclose confidential information, personal data, or unpublished materials relating to authors, reviewers, or manuscripts.

RSJ is committed to safeguarding the confidentiality of its editorial and peer review processes in accordance with its privacy and confidentiality policies.

8. Handling Violations

If the use of AI results in fabricated data or findings, fabricated or non-existent references, distorted information, plagiarism, or any other violation of academic integrity, the journal may take appropriate action in accordance with its policies on academic integrity, complaints and appeals, and corrections and retractions.

9. Review and Update

RSJ reviews this policy periodically to keep pace with developments in AI technologies and international standards and practices in scholarly publishing, while upholding the principles of originality, academic integrity, and scientific responsibility.