Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence and AI-Assisted Technologies

The journal Demography and Social Economy follows in its editorial policy the provisions of the Recommendations on the Use of AI in Scholarly Communication, developed by the European Association of Science Editors (EASE) (https://ease.org.uk/2024/09/recommendations-on-the-use-of-ai-in-scholarly-communication/) — an international professional organization in the field of scientific editing (https://ease.org.uk/about-us/).

We consider artificial intelligence as an auxiliary tool that can enhance the efficiency of research activities, provided it is used responsibly and ethically. At the same time, any results obtained through the use of such technologies must be properly verified, critically assessed, and interpreted by the author.

Given the generative capabilities of AI (including text creation, data processing, and preparation of analytical materials), the editorial board recognizes the potential risks of its misuse in the preparation of scholarly articles. In this regard, particular attention is paid to adherence to the principles of academic integrity, including issues of authorship, transparency, and prevention of plagiarism.

The editorial board expects authors to openly and voluntarily disclose the use of artificial intelligence tools in the preparation of materials submitted to the journal.

 

For Authors

Use of AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in Scholarly Writing

If authors use generative artificial intelligence or AI-based tools in the preparation of a manuscript, such technologies should be applied solely to enhance the clarity of presentation and for language editing purposes. Their use must remain under continuous human supervision. Authors are required to carefully review and refine any outputs generated by AI, as such systems may produce content that appears convincing but may in fact be inaccurate, incomplete, or biased.

Authors bear full responsibility for the accuracy, reliability, and originality of all submitted material, including any content created with the assistance of AI.

The use of artificial intelligence tools must be clearly disclosed in the manuscript. Relevant information should be provided within the article, specifying the name of the tool and describing the nature of its use. This practice ensures transparency, fosters trust among all participants in the scholarly communication process, and supports compliance with the terms of use of the respective technologies.

AI tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors, nor cited as authors. Authorship implies responsibilities and obligations that can only be fulfilled by humans. Each author or co-author is accountable for properly investigating and resolving any issues related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work, and must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission. In addition, authors are responsible for ensuring the originality of their work and for respecting the rights of third parties. Prior to submission, all authors are expected to familiarize themselves with the journal’s peer review process and adhere to the principles of publication ethics.

 

Use of Generative AI and AI Tools in Figures, Images, and Illustrations

The journal does not permit the use of generative artificial intelligence or AI-based tools to create or modify images in submitted manuscripts. This includes, but is not limited to, actions such as enhancement, darkening, shifting, removal, or addition of specific elements in a figure or illustration. Only basic adjustments (e.g., brightness, contrast, or color balance) are acceptable, provided they do not distort, obscure, or remove any information present in the original image.

An exception is made when the use of AI is an integral part of the research design or methodology (for example, in AI-based visualization techniques used to generate or analyze primary data). In such cases, the use of AI technologies must be clearly disclosed and fully described in the manuscript. The description should include details of how AI was applied in the creation or processing of the images, the name of the tool or model, its version, any relevant parameters, and information about the developer.

Authors are responsible for adhering to the terms of use of the respective software and for providing proper attribution for any AI-generated content. If requested, the editorial team may require the submission of original (unprocessed) images or earlier versions used to produce the final submitted figures for editorial review.

The creation of artistic content (including graphical annotations) using generative AI or AI tools is not allowed. The use of such technologies for cover images may be permitted only in exceptional cases, with prior approval from the editorial office and publisher, verification that all necessary rights for the content have been obtained, and proper attribution provided.

For Reviewers

If a researcher participates in the peer review of another author’s manuscript, the material received must be treated as confidential. Reviewers must not upload the submitted manuscript or any part of it to generative artificial intelligence tools, as this could compromise confidentiality and the intellectual property rights of the authors. If the manuscript contains personal data, such actions may also violate privacy rights.

This confidentiality requirement also applies to the reviewer’s report, as it may contain information about the manuscript and/or the authors that is confidential. Therefore, reviewers must not upload their reviews to AI tools, even for the purpose of improving grammar or readability.

The peer review process is a cornerstone of the scientific ecosystem, and the editorial board of the journal upholds the highest standards of integrity in its conduct. Reviewing a scholarly manuscript involves responsibilities that can only be fulfilled by humans. The use of generative AI or AI-based tools to assist in evaluating a manuscript is not permitted, as critical thinking, analytical judgment, and expert assessment required for review are beyond the capabilities of such technologies. In addition, there is a risk of generating inaccurate, incomplete, or biased conclusions. Reviewers bear full responsibility for the content of their reports.

According to the journal’s policy on AI use by authors, authors may employ generative AI and AI-based tools during manuscript preparation prior to submission, but only to enhance readability and correct grammatical errors, with mandatory disclosure of such use in the manuscript.

 

For Editors

The submitted manuscript must be treated as a confidential document. Editors must not upload the manuscript or any part thereof to generative artificial intelligence tools, as this may compromise confidentiality, infringe upon the authors’ intellectual property rights, and, where applicable, violate personal data protection regulations.

This confidentiality requirement applies to all materials related to the manuscript, including editorial correspondence and decision letters, which may contain sensitive information about the manuscript and/or its authors. Accordingly, editors are not permitted to use artificial intelligence tools even for the purpose of language editing or improving the readability of their communications.

The management of the editorial evaluation of a scientific manuscript is a responsibility that rests solely with humans. The use of generative artificial intelligence or AI-assisted technologies in the processes of peer review, evaluation, or editorial decision-making is not permitted. This is due to the necessity of critical thinking and independent scholarly judgment, which such technologies cannot ապահով, as well as the risk of producing inaccurate, incomplete, or biased conclusions regarding the manuscript. The editor bears full responsibility for the editorial process, the final decision, and its communication to the authors.

According to the Editorial Board’s policy, authors are permitted to use generative artificial intelligence tools during the manuscript preparation stage prior to submission solely for the purpose of improving language quality and correcting grammatical errors, provided that such use is properly disclosed. If an editor suspects that an author or reviewer has violated this policy, the editor must report the matter to the Editorial Board.