Ethical AI Usage Policy

Ethical AI Usage Policy

International Research Journal of Business Studies recognizes that advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies can support research, writing, and scientific publication management. However, AI use in manuscript preparation must be conducted responsibly while maintaining academic integrity, transparency, and scientific accountability.

Authors retain full responsibility for the manuscript's content, including data accuracy, analysis, interpretation of results, and research conclusions. Authors are required to submit a signed AI Usage Statement Form upon manuscript submission (Download Template).

  1. General Principles of AI Usage

Authors may use AI technology as a supporting tool during the research and writing process, provided that:

  • AI does not replace the primary intellectual contribution of the authors.
  • Authors remain fully accountable for the research concept, methodology, data analysis, interpretation of results, and conclusions.
  • AI tools are used transparently and in compliance with academic ethical standards.
  1. Permitted AI Usage

AI tools may be used to assist with:

  • Improving grammar, sentence structure, and academic readability.
  • Supporting manuscript editing and proofreading.
  • Exploring initial research ideas and concepts.
  • Managing references or conducting initial literature searches.
  • Assisting with data analysis, provided its methodology and application are adequately explained.

Note: Permitted AI usage does not diminish the authors' overall scientific responsibility.

  1. Prohibited AI Usage

Authors are strictly prohibited from using AI to:

  • Generate an entire manuscript without meaningful intellectual contribution from the authors.
  • Fabricate or falsify research data.
  • Alter, manipulate, or engineer research findings.
  • Generate invalid, fake, or non-existent citations and references.
  • List AI as an author or co-author.
  • Conceal AI usage that substantially influences the content of the article.
  1. AI Disclosure Statement

If authors use AI tools substantially during manuscript preparation, they must disclose this information in the Acknowledgements section and upload the completed AI Usage Statement Form.

Example Declarations:

"The authors used artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted tools for language improvement and manuscript editing. The authors remain fully responsible for the content, analysis, interpretation, and conclusions presented in this manuscript."

"The authors utilized AI-based tools to assist with language editing and readability enhancement. All content, analysis, interpretation, and conclusions are the sole responsibility of the authors."

  1. AI and Authorship

International Research Journal of Business Studies does not recognize AI tools or Large Language Models (LLMs) as authors or co-authors. Only human individuals who meet standard academic authorship criteria can be listed as authors.

  1. Author Responsibility for AI-Assisted Content

Authors must ensure that all content prepared or enhanced with AI assistance is:

  • Scientifically accurate;
  • Free from plagiarism;
  • Backed by valid citations;
  • Compliant with academic standards; and
  • Free from misleading information.

Authors bear full responsibility if the use of AI leads to academic errors or ethical misconduct.

  1. AI Usage in the Peer Review Process

Reviewers and editors are strictly prohibited from uploading submitted manuscripts into public AI tools that store or reuse data, as this violates:

  • Manuscript confidentiality;
  • Authors' intellectual property rights; and
  • The integrity of the peer review process.

AI tools may be used solely for administrative or language assistance, but final editorial decisions must be made exclusively by human editors and reviewers.

  1. AI Detection and Evaluation

International Research Journal of Business Studies may employ evaluation tools and methods to safeguard publication integrity. However, an indication of AI usage will not automatically be deemed an ethical violation. Editors will evaluate submissions based on:

  • Transparency of AI disclosure;
  • Academic quality of the manuscript;
  • Originality of the research contribution; and
  • Compliance with publication ethics.
  1. Policy Updates

This AI policy may be updated periodically to align with evolving technologies, international publishing standards, and best practices in academic publishing.