Generative AI Policy

The use of generative AI and AI-assisted tools in academic writing and research is rapidly evolving and becoming increasingly accessible to authors across disciplines. Ars æqui recognizes the potential of these tools to support manuscript preparation, improve language clarity, and assist with content organization.

Modelled after the Elsevier Generative AI policy for journals, our policy has been developed to provide clear guidance and transparency for authors, reviewers, editors, and readers. It outlines the responsible use of AI tools while ensuring that critical legal analysis, scholarly judgment, and intellectual responsibility remain with human contributors.

Our policy adheres to the principles of transparency, accountability, confidentiality, and human oversight:

  • AI use must be expressly disclosed.
  • Authors, reviewers, and editors are responsible for their work.
  • No manuscripts, reviews, or editorial materials may be uploaded to AI tools outside the journal system.
  • AI cannot replace human critical analysis, legal reasoning, or scholarly judgment.

Generative AI Guidelines

Authors:

  • AI tools may be used for language editing, summarizing content, or organizing text, but cannot replace critical thinking or legal analysis.
  • Any AI use must be disclosed in a statement in the manuscript (e.g., “The authors used [AI Tool name] for language editing. All intellectual content, analysis, and conclusions remain the authors’ own work.”)
  • AI cannot be listed as an author or co-author.
  • AI-generated figures, images, or artwork are not allowed, except when part of the research method (must be described in the Methods section).
  • Authors remain responsible for accuracy, originality, and compliance with copyright and data privacy.

Reviewers:

  • Manuscripts are confidential. Reviewers must not upload manuscripts or review reports into AI tools.
  • Assessment must remain human-led; AI cannot generate reviews or evaluate scholarly content.
  • Reviewers are accountable for the content and quality of their reports but are not responsible for detecting AI misuse.

Editors:

  • Editors must not upload manuscripts or editorial correspondence into AI tools.
  • AI tools may be used internally (e.g., plagiarism detection, reviewer assignment) but must respect confidentiality and data privacy.
  • Editorial evaluation and decision-making rely solely on human judgment.

Ars æqui will continue to monitor developments in generative AI and related technologies and will update this policy as best practices evolve.

(Last updated: 5 October 2025)