Updated Guidelines on the Use of Generative AI in Academic Writing

2026-09-29
 

Updated 2026-09-29

To maintain the integrity and academic rigor of Thoughts, authors must disclose any use of generative AI in the research or writing process — including language editing — at the time of submission. This disclosure is now mandatory in every submission, whether or not AI was used.

1. General Principles
Generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude) may assist with tasks such as language editing, but it must not replace an author's intellectual contribution. Authors are fully responsible for verifying all AI-assisted content and take full accountability for the final manuscript.

2. Disclosure Requirement (Mandatory)
Every submission must include a disclosure statement, based on how AI was used:

  • If AI was used for drafting manuscript text, generating images/graphics, or collecting/analyzing data → disclose in the Materials/Methods/Methodology section.
  • If AI was used for anything else, including language editing/proofreading → disclose in a separate subsection titled "Statement on the Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies," placed immediately after Acknowledgments.
  • If AI was not used at all → use the same subsection above, with the "no AI" statement (see below).

3. How to Fill In the Disclosure Statement

If AI was used, complete this template and place it in the required section (see above):

The author(s) used [Name of AI Tool/Service and Version] for [General Purpose]. AI-generated output was used specifically for [describe how the output was incorporated and its scope]. After using this tool/service, the author(s) has/have thoroughly reviewed and edited the content and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the article.

Example:

The author(s) used Claude 3.7 Sonnet (Anthropic, February 2025) for language editing and proofreading. AI-generated output was used specifically for improving sentence clarity in Chapter 3 only. The author(s) has/have thoroughly reviewed and edited the content and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the article.

Fill in the brackets like this:

  • Name of AI Tool/Service and Version — e.g., ChatGPT-4o (OpenAI, May 2025), Claude 3.7 Sonnet (Anthropic, February 2025), Grammarly Premium (v1.2.83)
  • General Purpose — e.g., language editing, translation for comprehension, bibliography formatting, brainstorming research angles
  • Scope of use — e.g., improving clarity in Chapter 3 only; translating three sources cited in Chapter 2 for preliminary comprehension; formatting references in APA 7th edition

If AI was not used at all, include this statement instead:

The author(s) confirm(s) that no generative AI and AI-assisted technologies were used in any way in the preparation, writing, or completion of this manuscript.

4. Prohibited Uses

  • AI-generated content must not replace original analysis, argumentation, or scholarly insight.
  • AI cannot be credited as an author — it cannot take responsibility for the work.
  • Unverifiable AI-generated text, images, or data must not be included in submissions.
  • AI must not be used to process confidential or sensitive data.

5. Consequences of Non-Compliance
Undisclosed or improperly disclosed AI use may result in manuscript rejection or, if discovered post-publication, retraction.