The Journal of Digital Economic Studies acknowledges the significant potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in contemporary academic publishing. AI technologies can assist authors in improving linguistic accuracy, supporting data analysis, and streamlining manuscript preparation. However, their use requires careful governance to ensure the preservation of scholarly integrity, originality, transparency, and accountability.

This policy sets out the journal’s position on the responsible and ethical use of AI tools in the development of manuscripts. It aims to provide clear guidance, reduce ambiguity, and align with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices and its ongoing discussions concerning the role of AI in editorial and publishing processes.

Definition of AI Tools

For this policy, AI tools are defined as software applications, platforms, or systems that employ artificial intelligence techniques—such as machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), or deep learning—to generate, edit, translate, summarize, or analyze textual, numerical, visual, or audio content in scholarly work.

Illustrative examples, which are not exhaustive, include:

• Generative language models such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and similar large language models (LLMs).

• Writing and editing tools such as Grammarly, DeepL Write, and QuillBot.

• AI-assisted tools for data analysis and visualization.

• AI systems are used to generate diagrams, figures, or schematic representations.

• AI-supported tools for literature searching and reference management.

Acceptable Use of AI Tools

Authors may use AI tools for limited and clearly defined purposes, provided that the following conditions are strictly observed.

Permissible Uses:

• Correction of grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors.

• Improvement of clarity, tone, and stylistic consistency.

• Formatting and standardization of references and citations.

• Preliminary assistance in literature searching.

• Supportive (but not substitutive) assistance in statistical analysis or computation.

• Generation of figures or schematic illustrations, subject to ethical sourcing and thorough author verification.

Prohibited Uses:

AI tools must not be used to:

• Generate entire manuscripts or substantial portions of original scholarly content without appropriate disclosure and meaningful human oversight.

• Fabricate, manipulate, or falsify data, results, or visual materials.

• Produce academic content without critical human validation.

• Summarize or paraphrase existing scholarship in ways that constitute plagiarism.

• Generate content that infringes intellectual property rights or incorporates third-party material without authorization.

Author Responsibilities

Authors bear full responsibility for all content submitted to the Journal of Digital Economic Studies, including any material generated or modified using AI tools. Accordingly, authors must:

• Ensure the accuracy, originality, and reliability of all AI-assisted content.

• Prevent and identify plagiarism, bias, hallucinations, or factual inaccuracies.

• Properly cite and acknowledge all external sources, data, and AI-assisted references.

• Accept full accountability for any errors, ethical breaches, or misrepresentations arising from the use of AI tools.

• Critically review and revise all AI outputs to ensure compliance with disciplinary standards.

Authorship and AI

Under no circumstances may AI tools be listed as authors or co-authors. Authorship is strictly limited to individuals who have made substantial intellectual contributions to the work and who can take responsibility for its content.

The inclusion of AI tools as authors, collaborators, or co-authors—in any form, including author notes or contribution statements—is strictly prohibited and may result in manuscript rejection or post-publication retraction.

Disclosure Requirements

Authors must provide full and transparent disclosure of any AI use beyond routine language editing. Such disclosures must include:

• The name, version, and developer of the AI tool used.

• A brief description of the purpose and scope of its use.

• A statement affirming the authors’ full responsibility for all AI-assisted content.

Placement of Disclosures in Manuscripts

Depending on the nature of AI tool usage, disclosures should appear in one or more of the following sections:

• Methods Section: When AI tools are used for data analysis, figure generation, computational modeling, or related research procedures.

• Acknowledgments Section: When AI tools are used for language refinement, translation, or formatting assistance.

• Dedicated Statement Section: Authors are encouraged to include a separate section titled “Declaration of AI Tool Usage”, using wording such as:

“During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [name, version, and developer of the AI tool] for [describe purpose and scope]. All AI-generated content was carefully reviewed and revised by the authors to ensure accuracy and scholarly integrity. The authors take full responsibility for the content of this manuscript.”

Editorial and Peer Review Oversight

Editors and peer reviewers will evaluate disclosures of AI use as part of their ethical and methodological assessment of submissions. Where undisclosed or inappropriate AI use is suspected, the editorial team may:

• Request clarification or revisions from the author(s).

• Reject the manuscript.

• Initiate a formal investigation or notify the authors’ affiliated institutions if ethical misconduct is suspected.

The Journal of Digital Economic Studies does not rely solely on automated tools to evaluate AI-generated content. All editorial decisions remain subject to human judgment and transparent communication with authors.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Violations of this policy may result in:

• Immediate rejection of the manuscript.

• Retraction of a published article.

• Formal notification to the authors’ affiliated institutions.

• A temporary or permanent ban on future submissions in cases of serious or repeated violations.

Appeals and Dispute Resolution

Authors who wish to contest editorial decisions related to AI use may submit a formal written appeal to the Editor-in-Chief. Appeals must clearly state the grounds for dispute, provide supporting evidence, and reference relevant provisions of this policy. Appeals will be reviewed by an internal ethics committee or, where appropriate, referred to an independent COPE advisor.

Use of AI by the Editorial Team

The Journal of Digital Economic Studies does not use AI tools to make editorial or peer review decisions autonomously. Any use of AI by the editorial team will be disclosed transparently and will always be subject to human oversight and final editorial authority.

Policy Updates and Author Guidance

This policy will be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect developments in AI technologies, emerging ethical challenges, and best practices in scholarly publishing. Authors are advised to consult the most recent version of this policy before submission and to contact the editorial office if clarification is needed.

The Journal of Digital Economic Studies supports the responsible adoption of innovative technologies while maintaining a firm commitment to scholarly rigor and ethical publishing standards.

Ethical Framework and References

This policy is informed by ethical principles and guidance issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), including:

• COPE Core Practices.

• COPE Discussion Document on Artificial Intelligence in Decision-Making.

• COPE Guidelines on Authorship and Contributorship.

• COPE Retraction Guidelines.

All authors submitting to the Journal of Digital Economic Studies are required to comply with these standards as a condition of publication.

References

Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). (2023). Artificial intelligence (AI) in decision-making. https://publicationethics.org/guidance/discussion-document/artificial-intelligence-ai-decision-making
Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). (n.d.). Core practices. https://publicationethics.org/core-practices
Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). (n.d.). Authorship and contributorship. https://publicationethics.org/guidance/guidelines/authorship
Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). (n.d.). Retractions. https://publicationethics.org/guidance/guidelines/retractions