Generative AI Policies

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Policy


1. Introduction

APTISI Transactions on Management (ATM) recognizes that Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and other AI-assisted technologies are increasingly integrated into academic research, scholarly communication, data analysis, software development, manuscript preparation, and publication workflows. These technologies may provide valuable assistance to authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff in improving efficiency, language quality, information organization, analytical support, and other legitimate scholarly activities.

As an international open-access journal dedicated to advancing research in Management, Information Systems, and multidisciplinary fields, ATM particularly recognizes the growing role of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, technology innovation, fintech, blockchain, data-driven management, and sustainable business practices in contemporary research. ATM's current Focus and Scope includes Technology Innovation, Digital Transformation, Digital Human, Fintech and Blockchain, and Sustainable Business.

However, the use of GenAI also introduces important concerns related to research integrity, academic accountability, originality, intellectual property, privacy, confidentiality, data protection, authorship, transparency, and the reliability of scholarly information.

To maintain high standards of academic integrity and responsible scholarly communication, ATM establishes this Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Policy. This policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, editorial staff, and other individuals involved in the submission, peer-review, editorial, and publication processes of ATM.

2. Guiding Principles

ATM supports the responsible, transparent, and human-centered use of AI-assisted technologies according to the following principles:

  • Human intellectual contribution, scholarly judgment, and professional responsibility must remain central to every manuscript published by ATM.

  • AI technologies may be used as supporting tools but must not replace independent scholarly reasoning, critical thinking, methodological judgment, or interpretation of research findings.

  • Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, validity, integrity, and ethical compliance of their manuscripts.

  • Material use of Generative AI during manuscript preparation must be appropriately disclosed.

  • AI-assisted activities must respect confidentiality, privacy, intellectual property, copyright, research ethics, and applicable data-protection requirements.

  • AI-generated information, citations, statistical interpretations, and factual claims must be independently verified by the authors.

  • AI must not be used to fabricate, falsify, manipulate, or misrepresent research evidence.

  • The use of AI should support responsible innovation, digital transformation, sustainable business practices, and the advancement of management knowledge.

 

3. Policy for Authors

3.1 Acceptable Uses

Authors may use Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies for limited and responsible purposes, including:

  • improving grammar, spelling, syntax, and academic language;

  • enhancing readability, clarity, and overall manuscript presentation;

  • assisting with manuscript organization and formatting;

  • generating preliminary outlines or brainstorming ideas;

  • assisting with translation and language refinement;

  • supporting coding documentation and technical formatting;

  • assisting with non-substantive editorial improvements;

  • supporting visualization or presentation development where the underlying research remains controlled and verified by the authors; and

  • assisting with other routine activities that do not replace the authors' intellectual contribution.

The use of AI must not replace the authors' responsibility for theoretical development, research design, methodological decisions, data collection, data analysis, interpretation of findings, discussion, and conclusions.

For manuscripts involving artificial intelligence, machine learning, digital transformation, fintech, blockchain, information systems, or other technology-related subjects, authors must take particular care to verify AI-assisted outputs because AI systems may generate inaccurate, outdated, biased, or fabricated information.

3.2 Mandatory Disclosure of Generative AI Use

Authors must disclose the use of Generative AI when an AI system materially contributes to the preparation, development, analysis, or presentation of the manuscript beyond routine spelling or grammar correction.

The disclosure should identify:

  • the name of the AI system or tool used;

  • the purpose for which the tool was used;

  • the nature of the assistance provided; and

  • confirmation that all AI-assisted outputs were critically reviewed, corrected where necessary, and independently verified by the authors.

The declaration should be placed before the References section or in another clearly identifiable section of the manuscript.

Example of Generative AI Declaration

Declaration of Generative AI Use

During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [Name of AI Tool] to assist with [describe purpose, e.g., language refinement, manuscript organization, or preliminary data interpretation]. All AI-assisted outputs were critically reviewed, revised where necessary, and independently verified by the authors. The authors accept full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and final content of the manuscript.

 

3.3 Author Responsibility and Accountability

The use of AI does not diminish or transfer authorship responsibilities.

Authors remain fully responsible for:

  • the originality and scholarly contribution of the manuscript;

  • the accuracy of factual statements and research claims;

  • the authenticity and accuracy of citations and references;

  • the validity and transparency of research methods;

  • the integrity of datasets and research materials;

  • the validity of statistical analyses and reported findings;

  • the interpretation and discussion of research results;

  • compliance with research ethics requirements;

  • compliance with intellectual property and copyright requirements;

  • protection of personal, confidential, and sensitive information; and

  • the final conclusions, implications, and recommendations presented in the manuscript.

AI systems must not be considered authoritative sources of scientific evidence, management theory, empirical data, statistical results, or factual verification without independent human assessment.


3.4 Unacceptable Uses

ATM does not permit authors to:

  • list AI systems as authors or co-authors;

  • use AI to fabricate or falsify research data, participants, observations, experiments, findings, or statistical results;

  • generate fictitious, fabricated, or unverifiable citations and references;

  • manipulate datasets, figures, tables, images, or research evidence through deceptive AI use;

  • present substantially AI-generated scholarly content as entirely original human scholarship;

  • submit manuscripts in which meaningful intellectual contribution from the listed authors is absent;

  • use AI to circumvent plagiarism, originality, similarity, or research-integrity requirements;

  • manipulate peer-review or editorial processes using AI-generated identities or communications;

  • conceal material AI use where disclosure is required;

  • upload confidential, unpublished, personal, proprietary, or restricted research information to AI systems in violation of confidentiality or data-protection obligations; or

  • use AI-generated outputs without appropriate verification when such outputs affect the validity or interpretation of the research.

4. AI-Generated Figures, Tables, Images, Multimedia, and Computational Content

Figures, illustrations, graphical abstracts, tables, visualizations, multimedia materials, code, or other substantial research content that are generated or materially modified using AI technologies must be disclosed when such use affects the representation or interpretation of the research.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that AI-assisted visual and computational materials:

  • accurately represent the underlying research;

  • do not fabricate, distort, or selectively manipulate evidence;

  • are appropriately identified or disclosed where necessary;

  • comply with copyright, licensing, intellectual property, and attribution requirements;

  • do not misrepresent research findings;

  • maintain consistency with the reported methodology and results; and

  • can be reasonably explained and defended by the authors.

For empirical research, AI-generated figures, charts, tables, or visualizations must not be presented as actual empirical evidence unless they are directly derived from authentic research data using a transparent and reproducible procedure.

Where necessary, the ATM Editorial Board may request original datasets, source files, analytical scripts, model outputs, methodological documentation, or other supporting materials to verify the integrity of AI-assisted content.

5. AI-Assisted Data Analysis and Research

ATM recognizes that AI technologies may be used in data-driven management research, information systems research, business analytics, artificial intelligence, and related fields.

Authors using AI-assisted analytical systems remain responsible for:

  • describing the analytical procedure adequately;

  • identifying the relevant AI or computational tool where material to the research;

  • explaining important model assumptions or configurations where appropriate;

  • verifying the reliability of generated analytical outputs;

  • ensuring that data have been processed ethically and lawfully;

  • maintaining appropriate records to support reproducibility; and

  • distinguishing AI-generated interpretations from independently validated research findings.

AI-generated statistical interpretations must not be accepted without appropriate statistical or methodological verification.

Where AI is itself the subject of the research, authors should provide sufficient methodological information to enable readers and reviewers to understand and evaluate the AI system, model, dataset, experimental design, and evaluation procedure.

6. Policy for Reviewers

Peer review at ATM is confidential and must remain independent, objective, and professionally accountable.

Reviewers must not upload or disclose submitted manuscripts, unpublished research, reviewer reports, datasets, confidential correspondence, supplementary materials, or other confidential information to publicly accessible or external Generative AI systems unless such use is expressly authorized and consistent with ATM's confidentiality requirements.

Reviewers must not use Generative AI to:

  • generate or substantially compose peer-review reports;

  • replace their own scholarly evaluation;

  • determine the originality or novelty of a manuscript;

  • independently determine methodological validity;

  • evaluate the scientific significance of research findings;

  • formulate acceptance, revision, or rejection recommendations; or

  • disclose confidential manuscript content to external AI systems.

Review reports must reflect the reviewer's own professional expertise, critical assessment, and independent scholarly judgment.

Reviewers may use AI-assisted tools for limited administrative or language-support purposes only when doing so does not compromise manuscript confidentiality or the independence of the review process.

7. Policy for Editors and Editorial Staff

Editors and editorial staff may use AI-assisted technologies for limited administrative, technical, or editorial-support activities, provided that confidentiality, privacy, and research-integrity requirements are maintained.

Permitted activities may include:

  • language and formatting assistance;

  • administrative workflow support;

  • identification of obvious formatting or consistency issues;

  • metadata organization;

  • assistance with routine editorial communication; and

  • other administrative activities that do not replace editorial judgment.

Editors and editorial staff must not rely on AI systems to independently:

  • determine the scientific quality of a manuscript;

  • establish originality or novelty;

  • determine the validity of research methodology;

  • assess the reliability of research findings;

  • make peer-review decisions;

  • determine acceptance, revision, or rejection; or

  • make final editorial decisions.

All editorial decisions remain the responsibility of the Editor-in-Chief and the ATM Editorial Board.

8. Confidentiality, Privacy, and Data Protection

ATM recognizes confidentiality, privacy, and responsible data management as fundamental principles of ethical scholarly publishing.

Unpublished manuscripts, reviewer reports, author correspondence, research datasets, personal information, proprietary business information, and other editorial materials must be treated as confidential.

Authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff must ensure that confidential or personal information is not submitted to AI platforms that may retain, reuse, disclose, or otherwise process such information in ways inconsistent with applicable confidentiality, privacy, intellectual property, or data-protection requirements.

Researchers using AI technologies must also consider:

  • informed consent requirements;

  • confidentiality of research participants;

  • protection of personally identifiable information;

  • ownership of research data;

  • intellectual property rights;

  • institutional research policies; and

  • applicable national and international regulations.

9. Research Integrity and Responsible AI

ATM maintains a strong commitment to research integrity and responsible use of emerging technologies.

Misconduct involving AI-assisted technologies may constitute a violation of ATM's publication ethics policies.

Potential violations include, but are not limited to:

  • fabrication;

  • falsification;

  • plagiarism;

  • inappropriate citation manipulation;

  • fabricated references;

  • deceptive use of AI-generated content;

  • unauthorized manipulation of images or research evidence;

  • misrepresentation of AI-generated material;

  • concealment of material AI use where disclosure is required;

  • unauthorized processing of confidential or personal information; and

  • intentional use of AI to mislead reviewers, editors, or readers.

Where potential misconduct is identified, ATM may investigate the matter in accordance with its publication ethics and editorial procedures.

Depending on the circumstances, possible editorial actions may include manuscript rejection, request for clarification, correction, expression of concern, retraction, or other appropriate measures.

10. Human-Centered and Responsible Use of AI in Management Research

ATM encourages the responsible use of AI to advance knowledge in management, information systems, digital transformation, technology innovation, fintech, blockchain, sustainable business, and related multidisciplinary areas.

AI-assisted research should remain grounded in:

  • human accountability;

  • transparency;

  • research integrity;

  • responsible innovation;

  • fairness and non-discrimination;

  • privacy and data protection;

  • intellectual property protection;

  • sustainability; and

  • consideration of broader organizational and societal impacts.

Authors are encouraged to consider the implications of AI adoption for employees, organizations, customers, businesses, policymakers, and society.

Research involving AI-driven decision-making should, where relevant, address issues such as algorithmic bias, transparency, explainability, accountability, data governance, cybersecurity, privacy, employment implications, and organizational sustainability.

ATM particularly encourages research that demonstrates how technological innovation can contribute to sustainable and responsible business practices and the achievement of relevant United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

11. AI and Authorship

Generative AI systems cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to ATM.

Authorship requires substantial intellectual contribution, accountability for the work, and the ability to respond to questions concerning the research.

AI systems cannot assume responsibility for:

  • the integrity of the research;

  • the accuracy of the manuscript;

  • ethical compliance;

  • authorship declarations;

  • conflicts of interest;

  • copyright responsibilities; or

  • responses to editorial and peer-review decisions.

Human authors remain fully accountable for the entire manuscript, including any content produced with the assistance of AI.

12. Editorial Rights

The ATM Editorial Board reserves the right to:

  • request clarification regarding the use of AI technologies;

  • require authors to provide additional AI-use disclosures;

  • request supporting datasets, source files, analytical procedures, or methodological documentation where necessary;

  • request clarification regarding AI-generated figures, tables, code, or other research materials;

  • evaluate potential AI-related research-integrity concerns;

  • take appropriate editorial action when AI use conflicts with research integrity, confidentiality, intellectual property, or ethical requirements;

  • reject manuscripts that substantially violate this policy; and

  • revise this policy in response to developments in artificial intelligence, scholarly publishing, research ethics, and international standards.

The implementation of this policy does not imply that ATM automatically rejects manuscripts that use AI. Rather, ATM evaluates whether AI has been used responsibly, transparently, ethically, and without compromising the scholarly contribution and accountability of the authors.

13. Effective Date

This Generative Artificial Intelligence Policy becomes effective upon publication on the official website of APTISI Transactions on Management (ATM) and applies to manuscripts submitted thereafter.

The policy may be periodically reviewed and updated to ensure alignment with developments in Generative AI, management research, information systems, digital transformation, research integrity, publication ethics, privacy, intellectual property, and international scholarly publishing standards.

References

This policy has been developed with consideration of internationally recognized guidance and principles concerning artificial intelligence, scholarly publishing, research integrity, and responsible AI use, including guidance from:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Authorship.

  • World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). Chatbots, Generative AI, and Scholarly Manuscripts.

  • International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers (STM). Guidance on Artificial Intelligence and Scholarly Publishing.

  • UNESCO. Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.

  • International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Recommendations concerning authorship and the use of artificial intelligence in scholarly publishing.

  • Elsevier. The Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in Writing and Research.

  • APTISI Transactions on Management (ATM). Editorial Policies, Focus and Scope, and Publication Ethics.