In the current environment of academic writing, a declaration of AI use in scientific publications has become an important element in confirming academic professionalism. Today, researchers increasingly use AI to search for wording, improve language, structure text, translate content, prepare abstracts, or technically process data. However, editors and reviewers need to understand exactly what role such tools played in the writing of an article. That is why many journals require authors to separately disclose the fact that AI was used, its purpose, and the limits of its application.
What is a declaration of AI use?
A declaration of AI use is a special statement in which the author informs the journal’s editorial board whether artificial intelligence (AI) tools were used in preparing the article and, if so, to what extent. Such a declaration usually specifies which service was used and for what tasks it was needed, such as language editing, translation, text structuring, or technical assistance in preparing the material. In addition, the declaration emphasizes that the scientific conclusions, data verification, and full responsibility for the content of the article remain entirely with the author.
Why has a declaration of AI use become necessary?
The first and most obvious reason for the emergence of such declarations is the growing number of papers in which AI is used without any explanation. For editors, this creates several risks:
- It is unclear who actually formulated the core meaning of the text
- It is unclear how the conclusions were verified and whether factual errors were made
- There may be fabricated references or unreliable sources
A declaration helps address some of these concerns in advance and demonstrates that the author controlled the article preparation process rather than delegating it entirely to artificial intelligence.
What is usually included in the declaration?
As a rule, the declaration describes which tool was used, at what stage of the work, and for what tasks. For example, an author may indicate that AI was used for language editing, text shortening, generating title options, or translating draft wording.
At the same time, it is important to emphasize separately that the interpretation of results, scientific conclusions, fact-checking, source selection, and final responsibility remain with the author. AI cannot be considered a co-author because it does not bear scientific or ethical responsibility for the content of the publication.
Why is a declaration of AI use important for the author?
The presence of a declaration reduces the risk of claims from the editorial board and helps avoid suspicions of AI misuse. If a journal explicitly requires disclosure of AI use and the author fails to provide it, the article may be rejected even at the initial screening stage. In some cases, concealing such information may affect the author’s reputation, especially if it later becomes clear that the text contains errors generated by an algorithm. Openly disclosing the role of AI, by contrast, demonstrates the author’s responsible approach to academic standards.
What mistakes should be avoided?
The most common mistake is a vague statement such as “AI was used in the work” without clarifying how exactly and to what extent.
The second problem is trying to use AI to prepare entire conceptual sections without subsequent scientific verification. Neural networks must also not be used to generate non-existent sources, references, statistics, or quotations. Even if AI helped speed up the work, the author is obliged to verify the accuracy of every fragment of the text before submitting the article.
How should a declaration of AI use be properly written?
The declaration should be clear to the editorial board and should not leave room for ambiguity. It is sufficient to specify the name of the tool, the purpose of its use, and to state that the final review, editing, and responsibility belong to the author. If the journal has its own form or disclosure statement, it is necessary to follow that specific format rather than use any alternative wording.
Thus, we can conclude that a declaration of AI use is needed not to ban new tools or progress, but to ensure integrity in academic circles and the reliability of publications. A declaration helps distinguish acceptable technical assistance from an unethical substitution of the author’s own work, reduces risks for the researcher, and simplifies communication with the editorial board. The more actively AI enters the academic environment, the more important it becomes to describe its role in article preparation honestly and accurately.
And if you are planning a publication and are concerned about whether a declaration is required and how to prepare it correctly, you can contact us at Scientific Publications. We will help assess whether a declaration is required for your chosen journal, suggest the correct wording, review your manuscript for compliance with academic requirements, and help prepare your article for submission. Forward to a successful publication!
