1. Disclosure of the Use of Artificial Intelligence

In the updated 2023 ICMJE recommendations, authors are required to disclose the use of artificial intelligence in the cover letter, acknowledgements section, or methods section, depending on the context. More specifically, any use of AI for writing, editing, or proofreading the manuscript must be described in the acknowledgements section, whereas any use of AI for data collection and analysis or figure generation must be reported in the methods section. In essence, ICMJE requires full and transparent reporting of how these technologies were used in the research and the associated manuscript.

2. Artificial Intelligence Is Not an Author

No artificial intelligence tool can meet one of the key authorship criteria defined by ICMJE: taking responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the content of the article. Therefore, no AI tool, such as ChatGPT, can be listed as an author, even if it was extensively used in the research or manuscript preparation. ICMJE also warns that AI-generated outputs may be incorrect, incomplete, or biased, and advises authors to carefully verify even the most authoritative AI-generated content. Additionally, any AI-generated text or images must be checked for plagiarism. Similarly, AI tools cannot be cited as sources in the reference list, as they are not considered authoritative sources of scientific information.

3. Cautious Use of Artificial Intelligence in Manuscript Review

The January 2024 update of the ICMJE recommendations states that “editors should be aware that the use of artificial intelligence technologies in manuscript processing may compromise confidentiality.” Therefore, it is essential that any reviewers who intend to use AI tools to assist in their review obtain prior permission from the journal editor. Uploading a full manuscript to an unauthorized AI platform or software may be considered a breach of confidentiality. Moreover, just as authors must be cautious about the accuracy and objectivity of AI-generated text, reviewers should also be aware that AI-generated review comments may be inaccurate, incomplete, or biased.

Conclusion

No tool can replace one’s own knowledge, experience, and expertise.