AI Use Policy

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

1. Purpose and Scope

The Journal of International Buddhist Studies (JIBS) recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies are increasingly used in academic research, writing, translation, language editing, literature discovery, and data analysis. JIBS permits the responsible use of such technologies provided that their use is transparent, appropriately supervised by humans, and consistent with academic integrity, research ethics, confidentiality, and scholarly accountability.

AI tools must support, rather than replace, human scholarly judgment, critical thinking, interpretation, and intellectual contribution.

This policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, and other participants in the editorial and publication process.

2. Human Authorship and Responsibility

AI tools, including generative AI systems and large language models, must not be listed as authors or co-authors.

Authorship requires intellectual responsibility, accountability, approval of the final manuscript, and the ability to respond to questions concerning the accuracy and integrity of the work. These responsibilities can only be assumed by human authors.

Authors remain fully responsible for all content submitted to JIBS, including any text, translations, interpretations, references, data, tables, figures, images, or other materials produced with the assistance of AI.

3. Permissible Uses of AI

Authors may use AI and AI-assisted technologies for appropriate supporting purposes, including:

  • improving grammar, spelling, punctuation, and readability;

  • assisting with language translation;

  • improving sentence structure or organization;

  • supporting literature discovery and organization;

  • assisting with coding, statistical analysis, text mining, or other computational research methods;

  • generating preliminary ideas, outlines, or organizational suggestions; and

  • other technical or language-related assistance that does not replace the author's scholarly contribution.

AI-assisted tools must be used under meaningful human supervision and with appropriate verification.

Routine tools used solely for basic spelling, grammar, punctuation, reference management, or similar technical functions do not normally require disclosure.

4. Unacceptable Uses of AI

AI tools must not be used to replace the author's substantive intellectual contribution.

JIBS does not accept manuscripts in which generative AI has effectively substituted for the author's scholarly reasoning, critical analysis, interpretation, argumentation, or conclusions.

The following practices are prohibited:

  • submitting substantially AI-produced scholarship without meaningful human intellectual contribution;

  • fabricating or manipulating research data, evidence, findings, or results;

  • generating fictitious or unverifiable references;

  • presenting AI-generated interpretations or arguments as independently verified scholarship;

  • using AI-generated paraphrasing to conceal plagiarism or inappropriate text reuse;

  • generating quotations or textual references that have not been verified against authentic sources; and

  • using AI in any manner that compromises research integrity, copyright, intellectual property, privacy, or ethical standards.

5. AI and Buddhist Textual Sources

Because JIBS publishes research involving Buddhist texts, traditions, doctrines, history, philosophy, and related primary sources, particular care must be taken when AI tools are used in textual research.

AI-generated quotations, translations, citations, or references to Buddhist scriptures and other primary sources must not be relied upon without verification.

Authors are responsible for checking quotations, translations, textual references, and citations against authoritative editions or reliable scholarly sources.

This requirement applies particularly to Pāli, Sanskrit, Chinese, Tibetan, and other Buddhist textual traditions.

AI-generated material must not be treated as a substitute for consulting the relevant primary or scholarly source.

6. AI-Assisted Translation and Language Editing

AI-assisted translation and substantive language editing are permitted.

Authors must carefully review AI-assisted translations and revisions to ensure that the meaning, terminology, doctrinal interpretation, academic tone, and scholarly argument have not been distorted.

Where generative AI has materially contributed to translation, rewriting, restructuring, or other substantive language assistance, its use must be disclosed.

Basic spelling, punctuation, and grammar checking does not normally require disclosure.

7. AI in Literature Review and Research Discovery

AI-assisted research discovery tools may be used to identify, organize, or explore relevant literature.

However, AI-generated summaries must not substitute for reading and evaluating the original scholarly sources.

Authors are responsible for verifying:

  • the existence of all cited publications;

  • the accuracy of bibliographic information;

  • whether the cited source actually supports the statement attributed to it; and

  • the relevance and scholarly reliability of the source.

Fabricated, non-existent, or misleading references may constitute grounds for rejection or other action under the journal's publication ethics policy.

8. AI in Research Methods and Data Analysis

When AI, machine learning, automated text analysis, computational models, or similar technologies form part of the research methodology, their use must be described sufficiently in the Methods section or another appropriate section.

Authors should identify, where relevant:

  • the name of the tool, software, or model;

  • its version where available;

  • its role in the research;

  • relevant procedures, parameters, or prompts where necessary for methodological transparency;

  • the type and source of data processed; and

  • the procedures used by the researchers to verify or validate the results.

The use of AI should be reported with sufficient transparency to allow readers to understand and, where appropriate, reproduce the research process.

9. AI-Generated Images and Other Media

Authors are responsible for the accuracy, originality, copyright status, ethical appropriateness, and necessary permissions relating to images or other media generated or modified using AI.

AI-generated or AI-modified images must not be used to falsify evidence or misrepresent research findings.

Where generative AI has been used to create or substantially modify scholarly images, illustrations, or other visual material, this use must be clearly disclosed.

10. Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose the use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies when such technologies have materially contributed to manuscript preparation, translation, substantive editing, analysis, research methodology, or content generation.

The declaration should appear in a separate section immediately before the References.

The disclosure should identify:

  1. the AI tool or service used;

  2. the purpose for which it was used; and

  3. confirmation that the authors reviewed and verified the resulting content and assume full responsibility for the manuscript.

Routine spelling, grammar, punctuation, and basic reference-management tools do not normally require disclosure.

If no reportable AI assistance was used, no declaration is required.

Suggested Disclosure Statement

Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies

During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used [NAME OF AI TOOL/SERVICE] for [SPECIFIC PURPOSE]. The author(s) subsequently reviewed, verified, and edited the resulting material as necessary and take full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and content of the manuscript.

11. Use of AI by Reviewers

Manuscripts submitted to JIBS are confidential documents.

Reviewers must not upload an unpublished manuscript, substantial portions of a manuscript, figures, tables, supplementary files, or other confidential submission materials into publicly accessible or third-party generative AI systems where confidentiality, intellectual property protection, and data security cannot be assured.

AI tools must not replace the reviewer's independent scholarly evaluation, disciplinary expertise, critical judgment, or recommendation.

Reviewers may use AI tools in a limited supportive capacity, such as improving the grammar, clarity, or organization of their own review comments or conducting general background literature searches, provided that no confidential manuscript content is disclosed.

Reviewers remain fully responsible for the accuracy, fairness, relevance, and integrity of their review reports.

Where generative AI has materially assisted in the preparation of a review report, reviewers should disclose such use to the journal.

12. Use of AI by Editors

Editors must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.

Editors must not upload unpublished manuscripts or confidential submission materials into publicly accessible or third-party generative AI systems where confidentiality and data protection cannot be assured.

AI tools may assist with administrative, linguistic, organizational, or other supporting tasks that do not compromise manuscript confidentiality.

AI must not replace the editor's independent evaluation or final editorial judgment.

Decisions concerning desk rejection, peer review, acceptance, rejection, correction, expression of concern, or retraction must remain under meaningful human editorial oversight.

Editors remain accountable for all editorial decisions.

13. AI Detection and Assessment

JIBS may use technological tools as part of manuscript screening and research-integrity assessment.

However, outputs from AI-detection systems or other automated tools will not normally be treated as conclusive evidence of inappropriate AI use.

Any concerns regarding undisclosed or inappropriate AI use will be evaluated in context and, where appropriate, authors may be invited to provide clarification.

Editorial decisions will be based on the overall evidence and scholarly assessment of the manuscript rather than solely on an automated AI-detection score.

14. Non-Disclosure, Misuse, and Publication Ethics

Failure to disclose material use of AI, fabrication of references or data, plagiarism, falsification, breaches of confidentiality, or other inappropriate uses of AI may result in editorial action.

Depending on the nature and severity of the concern, such action may include:

  • requesting clarification or correction;

  • requiring revision;

  • rejection of the manuscript;

  • correction of a published article;

  • expression of concern;

  • retraction; or

  • other appropriate action consistent with recognized publication ethics principles.

The use of AI itself will not constitute grounds for rejection when it complies with this policy. Editorial action will focus on transparency, scholarly integrity, human accountability, confidentiality, and the reliability of the published record.

15. Policy Review

Because AI technologies and standards in scholarly publishing continue to evolve rapidly, JIBS may periodically review and revise this policy in accordance with developments in publication ethics and international scholarly publishing practice.