Rules for authors who use AI during the writing or publishing process are rapidly evolving and vary significantly across publishers. This guide provides an overview of current AI guidelines issued by major academic publishers, helping IOU researchers navigate acceptable use, disclosure requirements, and ethical boundaries.
If you know which journal or publisher you are targeting, review their specific AI policy before using any AI tools. Some publishers strictly limit or forbid generative AI use, while others allow it under specific conditions. If you do choose to use AI, keep a record of your prompts, outputs, and any data entered into the system, as you may need to provide this during submission or peer review.
The AI policies for major publishers are summarized in the table below. Because these policies continue to evolve, please refer to the publisher’s official site for the most up-to-date information.
| Publisher | AI for Language Editing (No Disclosure) | AI for Content Generation (Disclosure Required) | AI Authorship Allowed | Reviewer Use of AI | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wiley | Allowed | Disclosure required (tool, purpose, verification) | Not allowed | Not allowed for manuscript processing | Must review AI tool terms; authors remain fully accountable. |
| Elsevier | Allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed | Strongly discouraged; must maintain confidentiality | Language editing only; full author responsibility. |
| Springer Nature | Allowed | Disclosure required in appropriate section | Not allowed | Not permitted to input manuscripts into AI tools | Light editing does not require disclosure. |
| Sage | Allowed | Full disclosure required | Not allowed | Disclosure required if AI used in review writing | Clear distinction between assistive and generative AI. |
| Oxford University Press (OUP) | Not specified | Not allowed without written permission | Not allowed | Not allowed | Requires prior approval for any AI-generated content. |
| Taylor & Francis | Allowed | Full disclosure required | Not allowed | Not allowed for manuscript content | Data/image creation or manipulation is prohibited. |
| IEEE | Allowed (disclosure recommended) | Disclosure required in Acknowledgments | Not allowed | Not allowed; violates confidentiality | AI use must be tied to valid experimental analysis. |
| MDPI | Allowed | Disclosure required in both Acknowledgments and Methods | Not allowed | Disclosure required for review editing only | Offers disclosure templates; strict peer review guidelines. |
| PLOS | Allowed | Disclosure required with full details | Not allowed | Not allowed; AI-assisted review editing must be disclosed | Strong stance against data/figure fabrication. |