Neo Biologist's Policy on the Responsible Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence and AI-Assisted Technologies. We recognize the increasing role of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted tools in the research and publishing process. From enhancing clarity in academic writing to assisting with literature exploration, these technologies can, when used responsibly, strengthen the quality and impact of scientific communication.

However, AI use in scholarly work must uphold the core principles of academic integrity, transparency, confidentiality, and human accountability. This policy sets out the acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI tools for authors, editors, and reviewers, along with disclosure requirements. Examples of such tools include (but are not limited to): ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, Claude, DALL·E, Midjourney, Runway, ResearchRabbit, Consensus, Connected Papers, SciSpace, PaperPal, Jenni AI, Grammarly, AfforAI, Clarivate Reviewer Locator, Journal Suggester.

Potential Risks of AI Use

While AI tools can enhance productivity and creativity, their limitations must be acknowledged:
-Accuracy and bias – AI can produce factually incorrect or biased content.
-Lack of source attribution – AI outputs may not cite original sources, undermining scholarly rigor.
-Confidentiality concerns – Using third-party AI tools can expose sensitive or unpublished data.
-Data reuse risks – Input/output information may be stored or reused by AI providers without consent.

Therefore, human oversight is mandatory for all AI-assisted work in Neo Biologist.

This policy aligns with evolving global standards for responsible AI use in academic publishing and draws inspiration from leading research integrity frameworks (e.g., Taylor & Francis AI use guidelines).

1. For Authors

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all submitted content is original, accurate, and prepared in line with our editorial standards.

Permitted Uses (with caution and human oversight):

Authors may use AI tools to:
- Improve grammar, spelling, and language clarity (e.g., Grammarly, PaperPal, Microsoft Editor)
- Generate ideas or explore research topics (e.g., ResearchRabbit, SciSpace, Connected Papers)
- Summarize literature for review purposes (e.g., Consensus, Jenni AI)
- Organize references or visualize research connections (e.g., Connected Papers, ResearchRabbit)
- Assist with coding or figure generation, provided outputs are reproducible and validated
- Paraphrase or restructure sentences for clarity (with full human editing)

All AI-assisted outputs must be reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by the authors themselves.

Prohibited Uses:

Authors must not:
- Generate entire manuscripts, results, or figures without human authorship and verification
- Use AI to fabricate, alter, or manipulate data (including synthetic data) without full disclosure and a sound methodology
- Generate citations without verifying the sources
- Attribute authorship to AI or list AI as a co-author
- Use AI for ethical decision-making or interpretation of findings
- Rely on AI-generated abstracts, results, or conclusions without substantial human revision

Disclosure Requirements

Authors must clearly disclose any AI use in their manuscript, stating

1. The name and version of the AI tool
2. The specific purpose of use (e.g., grammar correction, literature mapping)
3. A statement of human review and responsibility

Example disclosure if AI tools were used:

> “The authors used \[Tool name, version] for \[purpose, e.g., grammar correction]. All AI-assisted content was reviewed and edited by the authors, who accept full responsibility for the final work.”

If no AI tools were used:

> “The authors declare that no AI tools were used in the preparation of this manuscript.”

2. For Editors and Section Editors

Editors act as custodians of research quality and confidentiality. Manuscripts should never be uploaded to public AI tools for processing, due to risks to intellectual property and data security.

Permitted Uses

- Drafting editorial correspondence (e.g., Grammarly, PaperPal)
- Keyword tagging and reviewer matching (e.g., Clarivate Reviewer Locator, Journal Suggester)
- Using AI for plagiarism detection (e.g., CrossRef Similarity Check)
- Generating summaries for internal indexing or discoverability

Prohibited Uses

- Uploading unpublished manuscripts or figures to AI tools for summarization or evaluation
- Using AI to make acceptance/rejection decisions
- Using AI to interpret scientific content or write editorial commentary

3. For Peer Reviewers

Reviewers must ensure confidentiality of manuscripts and should not expose any part of a submission to public AI platforms.

Permitted Uses

- Improving clarity of review comments (e.g., Grammarly)
- Exploring related literature for background (e.g., Consensus, ResearchRabbit)
- Summarizing known literature for context (with independent verification)

Prohibited Uses

- Uploading any manuscript text or figures to AI systems for analysis or summarization
- Using AI to generate peer review reports or make judgments on methodology, originality, or conclusions

4. Enforcement

The Journal management assures that authors, reviewers and members of editorial board adhere to the guidelines set by the Neo Academic Press (SMC-Pvt) Ltd. The Violations of this policy may lead to:
- Immediate rejection of the submission
- Retraction of published articles
- Notification to the author’s institution or funding body
- Suspension of reviewing or editorial privileges