AI Policy

1. General Principles
Journal of Medico Informatics (JoMI) recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI), generative artificial intelligence, large language models (LLMs), machine-learning systems, AI-assisted image-generation technologies, and related computational tools are increasingly used in research and scholarly publishing. The journal permits the responsible use of AI and AI-assisted technologies provided that such use is transparent, ethical, scientifically appropriate, and consistent with principles of research integrity and publication ethics. AI tools may assist authors, reviewers, editors, and other contributors, but they cannot assume responsibility for scholarly work. Human authors and editorial personnel remain accountable for the accuracy, originality, integrity, confidentiality, and ethical compliance of all material submitted to or published by the journal.

2. AI Use in Manuscript Writing and Language Editing
Authors may use AI-assisted technologies for language improvement, grammar and spelling correction, translation, sentence restructuring, readability enhancement, and other limited editorial purposes. When AI is used only for routine language editing or proofreading, detailed reporting of individual prompts is generally not required; however, authors remain responsible for carefully reviewing and approving all AI-assisted output. Where AI is used to generate substantial new text, scientific arguments, interpretations, literature summaries, methodological descriptions, or other substantive intellectual content, such use must be disclosed in the manuscript. Authors should identify the AI tool or model used, its version where available, and the purpose and nature of its contribution. AI-generated content must never be presented as the independent work of the authors without appropriate disclosure.

3. AI and Authorship
AI systems, chatbots, large language models, and other artificial intelligence technologies cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to Journal of Medico Informatics. Authorship requires human responsibility for the scholarly work, including accountability for the accuracy and integrity of the manuscript, approval of the final version, disclosure of conflicts of interest, and the ability to respond to questions concerning the research. Authors who use AI-assisted technologies remain fully responsible for all material produced, modified, interpreted, or incorporated with such assistance. This policy follows the principles established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

4. AI-Assisted Data Analysis, Research and Interpretation
When AI or machine-learning technologies contribute to research activities, including data processing, statistical analysis, predictive modelling, classification, natural-language processing, image analysis, molecular modelling, computational analysis, code development, or scientific interpretation, the authors must clearly describe the role of the technology in the appropriate methodological section of the manuscript. Where relevant, authors should report the AI system or model, version, software environment, important parameters, input data, training procedures, validation methods, and other information necessary to understand and evaluate the methodology. Authors must independently verify AI-assisted analyses and interpretations and remain responsible for the scientific validity, reproducibility, and accuracy of the resulting research.

5. AI-Generated or AI-Assisted Figures and Images
AI-generated or AI-assisted figures and images may be used when they serve legitimate scientific, educational, schematic, or graphical purposes and do not misrepresent research evidence. Where AI substantially contributes to the creation or modification of a figure, illustration, graphical abstract, or other visual material, the use of AI should be disclosed in the figure legend, Methods section, or another appropriate section of the manuscript. Authors should identify the AI tool or model used and briefly describe its contribution. AI must not be used to fabricate, add, remove, replace, conceal, or materially modify scientific evidence in research images, including microscopy, radiological, histological, electrophoretic, western blot, genomic, proteomic, clinical, experimental, or other data-bearing images. Routine image adjustments may be acceptable when they are applied consistently and do not alter or obscure the underlying scientific information.

6. AI-Generated Tables, Graphs and Graphical Abstracts
AI-assisted technologies may be used in the preparation of tables, graphs, flowcharts, graphical abstracts, conceptual diagrams, and other visual materials provided that all scientific information is independently verified by the authors. Authors remain responsible for the accuracy of numerical values, data interpretation, labels, units, statistical information, captions, and all other content contained in AI-assisted materials. Where AI makes a substantive contribution to the preparation of a table, graph, graphical abstract, or illustration, the authors should disclose the relevant AI tool and its contribution. AI must not be used to introduce, modify, or fabricate research data in a manner that changes the scientific meaning or evidentiary basis of the work.

7. AI and References and Citations
AI systems must not be considered authoritative bibliographic sources, and authors must independently verify all references suggested, generated, formatted, or selected with the assistance of AI. Authors are responsible for confirming that every cited publication exists and that its authorship, title, journal, publication year, volume, issue, page information, DOI, and other bibliographic details are accurate. Authors must also confirm that each cited source genuinely supports the statement for which it is cited and must avoid inappropriate citation of retracted, withdrawn, or otherwise unreliable publications. AI-generated references can contain fabricated or inaccurate bibliographic information; therefore, references must be checked against the original publication or reliable bibliographic databases before submission. AI-generated text or responses must not be cited as though they constitute original scientific literature, and AI tools must not replace appropriate citation of primary research sources. This principle is consistent with ICMJE recommendations concerning the use of AI in scholarly publishing.

8. Fabricated or Unverifiable References
Manuscripts submitted to Journal of Medico Informatics must not contain fabricated, nonexistent, materially inaccurate, or unverifiable references, regardless of whether such references were generated through AI or by other means. Authors are responsible for checking the authenticity and relevance of all references before submission. Discovery of fabricated or substantially inaccurate references during editorial assessment or peer review may result in a request for clarification, correction, manuscript rejection, or further editorial action where appropriate. Where fabricated references are associated with broader concerns regarding research integrity, the journal may initiate procedures in accordance with its publication-ethics policies.

9. AI Disclosure Statement
Authors must disclose substantive use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in the preparation of a manuscript. The disclosure should normally appear under a heading such as “Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies,” “Acknowledgements,” or another appropriate section specified by the journal. The statement should identify the AI tool or model and explain its purpose and contribution. For example, authors may state: “During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [name of AI tool/model] for language editing and grammatical improvement. The authors reviewed and revised the output and take full responsibility for the final content of the manuscript.” Where AI is used for substantive analysis, coding, figure preparation, interpretation, or other research activities, the disclosure should describe the specific contribution and confirm that the authors independently verified the resulting material.

10. Disclosure of AI Model and Prompt Information
When AI contributes substantially to scientific analysis, generation of research results, tables, figures, illustrations, code, or other research outputs, authors may be required to provide additional information about the AI system to support transparency and reproducibility. Such information may include the name of the AI platform, model and version, date of use, purpose of use, relevant prompts, important parameters or settings, input information, and relevant output information. The journal may request such information during peer review or editorial assessment where necessary to evaluate the scientific validity, reproducibility, originality, or integrity of the submitted work. Disclosure requirements may vary according to the extent and nature of AI involvement.

11. Confidentiality and Unpublished Manuscripts
Authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff must exercise appropriate caution when using AI systems in connection with unpublished manuscripts, confidential research data, proprietary information, patient information, personal data, or other restricted material. Confidential manuscript content must not be uploaded to external AI systems where confidentiality, data protection, or appropriate control over the submitted information cannot be assured. All contributors must comply with applicable privacy requirements, institutional policies, research-participant protections, intellectual-property obligations, and the journal's confidentiality requirements. Use of AI must not compromise the confidentiality or security of unpublished scholarly material.

12. AI Use by Reviewers
Reviewers must not upload submitted manuscripts, supplementary files, figures, confidential data, reviewer comments, or other unpublished material into generative AI systems or external platforms when such use could compromise confidentiality. AI must not replace the reviewer's independent scholarly assessment. Where AI-assisted tools are permitted for limited purposes, reviewers remain fully responsible for the accuracy, fairness, confidentiality, originality, and integrity of their review reports. Reviewers should follow the journal's instructions regarding disclosure of AI use and must not allow AI-generated content to determine or materially replace their independent evaluation of the manuscript.

13. AI Use by Editors and Editorial Staff
Editors and editorial staff may use AI-assisted technologies for appropriate administrative, language, screening, or editorial-support purposes when confidentiality, accuracy, transparency, and data protection can be maintained. Unpublished manuscripts and confidential editorial information must not be entered into external AI systems where confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. AI tools may assist editorial workflows but must not independently determine manuscript acceptance, rejection, retraction, or other substantive editorial outcomes. Final editorial decisions must remain the responsibility of qualified human editors who are accountable for the fairness, integrity, and transparency of the editorial process.

14. AI and Peer-Review Reports
AI-generated peer-review reports must not be submitted as a substitute for a reviewer's own scholarly assessment. Reviewers are expected to independently evaluate the originality, scientific validity, methodology, interpretation, ethical compliance, references, figures, and overall contribution of each manuscript. Where the journal permits limited AI assistance in preparing a review, the reviewer remains fully responsible for the final report and must ensure that confidential manuscript information is not improperly disclosed to an AI system. AI assistance must never compromise the independence, confidentiality, fairness, or scholarly judgment expected of peer reviewers.

15. Plagiarism, Fabrication and Research Misconduct
The use of AI does not exempt authors or other contributors from established standards of research integrity. Undisclosed substantive AI-generated content, fabricated references, fabricated or falsified data, manipulated research images, plagiarism, inappropriate reproduction of copyrighted material, misleading scientific statements, concealment of material AI involvement, or other AI-assisted practices that compromise the integrity of the scholarly record may be considered publication-ethics or research-integrity concerns. The journal may request clarification, original research data, original image files, methodological information, AI-use details, or other supporting documentation when concerns arise. Editorial action will be determined according to the seriousness and circumstances of the concern and the journal's applicable publication-ethics procedures.

16. Copyright and Intellectual Property
Authors are responsible for ensuring that all AI-assisted content complies with applicable copyright, licensing, intellectual-property, and third-party rights. The use of an AI system does not transfer responsibility for copyright compliance from the author to the journal. Authors must not use AI tools to reproduce copyrighted text, figures, images, datasets, or other protected material without appropriate permission, attribution, or other lawful basis. Authors should also consider the terms and conditions of the AI platform used, including restrictions relating to ownership, reuse, commercial publication, data retention, and confidentiality, where applicable.

17. Editorial Assessment of AI Disclosure
Journal of Medico Informatics may request additional information concerning AI use whenever necessary to evaluate research integrity, originality, reproducibility, image integrity, citation accuracy, confidentiality, or compliance with this policy. The journal reserves the right to request clarification regarding the extent to which AI contributed to manuscript preparation, data analysis, coding, interpretation, tables, figures, graphical abstracts, or other research outputs. Failure to disclose substantive AI use, particularly where such use materially affects the scientific content or presentation of the work, may be considered during editorial assessment and may result in appropriate corrective or editorial action.

18. Responsibility of Authors
All authors, including the corresponding author, are responsible for ensuring that the use of AI and AI-assisted technologies complies with this policy. Authors must verify the accuracy, originality, scientific validity, and integrity of all AI-assisted material and must ensure that such material does not contain fabricated information, fabricated references, plagiarism, misleading interpretations, inappropriate image manipulation, or unauthorized copyrighted content. Authors must also ensure that AI use does not compromise confidentiality, privacy, or research-participant protections. Human authors retain full responsibility for the final manuscript and all material contained in the published scholarly record, regardless of whether any portion was produced or modified with AI assistance.

19. Continuous Policy Review
Journal of Medico Informatics recognizes that artificial intelligence technologies, scholarly publishing practices, copyright requirements, research-integrity standards, and recommendations concerning responsible AI use are rapidly evolving. Accordingly, the journal may periodically review and update this policy to reflect developments in technology, law, publication ethics, research integrity, and international publishing standards. The journal will seek to maintain this policy in accordance with recognized recommendations and guidance from organizations including the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), and other relevant international scholarly-publishing and research-integrity organizations. Authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff are expected to comply with the current version of this policy applicable at the time of submission, review, or editorial activity.