Policy on AI and AI-Assisted Technologies

The International Journal of Applied Business and International Management (IJABIM) recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies are increasingly used in research, writing, analysis, and scholarly communication. IJABIM supports the responsible use of these technologies where they contribute to research and manuscript preparation while maintaining appropriate standards of transparency, accuracy, confidentiality, originality, and human accountability.

This policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, and other participants in the journal's editorial and publication processes.

1. Use of AI by Authors

Authors may use AI or AI-assisted technologies to support appropriate aspects of research and manuscript preparation. Authors remain fully responsible for all material submitted to IJABIM, including the accuracy of information, originality of the work, integrity of data and analysis, appropriateness of citations, and validity of interpretations and conclusions.

AI-generated or AI-assisted output should be critically reviewed, verified, and edited by the authors before submission. Authors should not rely on AI-generated information, references, quotations, data, or interpretations without independently verifying their accuracy and source.

The use of AI-assisted technologies does not reduce or transfer any responsibility that would otherwise belong to the authors.

2. AI Authorship

AI systems, large language models, chatbots, and other AI-assisted technologies cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to IJABIM.

Authorship requires responsibilities that can only be fulfilled by individuals who are able to take accountability for the accuracy, integrity, originality, and scholarly content of the work and who can respond to questions concerning the manuscript.

3. Disclosure of AI Use

Authors should disclose substantive use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in the preparation or development of a manuscript. The disclosure should identify the tool used and briefly explain how it was used.

Disclosure is generally expected when AI has been used substantively for activities such as generating or restructuring manuscript content, supporting analysis or coding, producing or materially modifying research materials, or generating visual content.

Routine use of tools solely for spelling, grammar, punctuation, reference formatting, or basic language correction does not normally require a separate disclosure, provided that such tools do not substantially generate or alter the scholarly content of the manuscript.

Where disclosure is required, authors may include a statement such as:

The disclosure of appropriate AI use does not, by itself, affect the editorial evaluation of a manuscript.

4. AI Used as Part of the Research Method

When AI or machine-learning technologies form part of the research design, data analysis, coding, classification, prediction, content generation, or other substantive research procedures, their use should be described in the appropriate section of the manuscript as part of the research method.

Authors should provide sufficient information to enable readers to understand how the technology was used, including, where relevant, the name of the system or model, version or access information, purpose of use, relevant procedures or parameters, and the role of human oversight.

AI-assisted analysis should be reported with the same standards of methodological transparency, validation, and research integrity expected for other analytical methods.

5. References, Data, Figures, and Research Materials

Authors are responsible for verifying all references and sources included in their manuscripts. AI-generated citations or references should not be used unless the underlying source has been independently located, verified, and reviewed by the authors.

AI must not be used to fabricate, falsify, or misleadingly manipulate research data, findings, images, figures, participant information, quotations, or other research materials.

Where AI-generated or materially AI-modified images, figures, or other visual materials form a legitimate part of the research or scholarly contribution, their use should be transparently identified and described. Authors remain responsible for ensuring that the material is accurate and that its use complies with applicable copyright, licensing, privacy, and ethical requirements.

6. Confidentiality and Sensitive Information

Authors should exercise appropriate care when using external AI services with unpublished research, confidential information, personal data, proprietary materials, interview transcripts, or other sensitive content.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their use of AI tools complies with applicable ethical approvals, informed-consent arrangements, data-protection requirements, confidentiality obligations, and the terms governing the research data concerned.

7. Use of AI by Peer Reviewers

Manuscripts submitted to IJABIM are confidential documents. Reviewers must not upload submitted manuscripts, manuscript extracts, supplementary materials, or other confidential submission content to publicly accessible generative AI systems or other external AI services where confidentiality and data protection cannot be assured.

AI-assisted technologies must not replace the reviewer's independent scholarly assessment, critical judgment, or responsibility for the review report. Reviewers remain responsible for the accuracy, relevance, fairness, and substance of the comments and recommendations they provide.

If an AI-assisted tool is used in a manner that substantively contributes to the preparation of a review report, the reviewer should inform the Editor, while continuing to comply with the journal's confidentiality requirements.

8. Use of AI by Editors

Editors and editorial staff must protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and related editorial communications. Confidential manuscript content should not be uploaded to external AI systems where confidentiality, intellectual property, or data protection cannot be assured.

AI-assisted technologies may support appropriate administrative or technical activities, but they must not replace the Editor's independent evaluation, selection of reviewers, assessment of reviewer reports, or final editorial decision.

Responsibility and accountability for editorial decisions remain with the human Editor.

9. Research Integrity and Undisclosed or Inappropriate AI Use

Concerns regarding AI use will be assessed according to the nature and significance of the issue. Where AI use results in fabricated references, inaccurate or misleading content, inappropriate manipulation of data or images, plagiarism, breaches of confidentiality, or other research-integrity concerns, the matter will be considered under IJABIM's publication-ethics procedures.

Where a significant issue is identified after publication, IJABIM may take appropriate action in accordance with its Publication Ethics and Crossmark and Post-Publication Update Policy.

10. Policy Review

IJABIM will review this policy periodically in response to developments in AI technologies, research practices, publication ethics, and scholarly publishing standards.