POLICY ON FAIR USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TOOLS

RSYN RESEARCH LLP Publication Policy

Applicable to all journals, books, and other publications by RSYN RESEARCH LLP

INTRODUCTION

RSYN RESEARCH LLP (hereinafter “the Publisher”) recognizes the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in academic research and scholarly publishing. This policy outlines the Publisher's approach to the use of AI tools in manuscript preparation and establishes guidelines for transparent disclosure of such use.

This policy applies to all journals, books, conference proceedings, and other publications published by RSYN RESEARCH LLP, including but not limited to Contemporary Advances in Science and Technology, and all other current and future publications under the Publisher's imprint.

DEFINITION OF AI TOOLS

For the purposes of this policy, “AI tools” include but are not limited to:

  • Large language models (e.g., GPT-4, Claude, Llama)
  • Automated writing and editing assistants (e.g., Grammarly AI, Wordtune)
  • Data analysis algorithms and automated statistical tools
  • AI-based visualization generators
  • Literature search and summarization tools
  • Code generation and debugging tools
  • Image creation and manipulation tools
  • Speech-to-text and text-to-speech converters with AI components
  • Translation tools powered by neural networks
  • Any future AI technologies that may assist in content creation, data analysis, or other aspects of manuscript preparation

This definition is intentionally broad and will encompass new AI tools and technologies as they emerge. The absence of a specific tool from this list does not exempt it from disclosure requirements if it meets the general definition of an AI tool that assists in manuscript preparation.

PERMISSIBLE USES OF AI TOOLS

The Publisher permits the use of AI tools in the following capacities:

Writing and Editing Assistance

  • Grammar, spelling, and style improvement
  • Language refinement for non-native English speakers
  • Restructuring and organization of content
  • Suggestions for clarity and readability

Data Processing and Analysis

  • Statistical analysis and validation
  • Data visualization
  • Pattern recognition in large datasets
  • Computational modeling

Literature Review

  • Identifying relevant publications
  • Organizing bibliographic information
  • Formatting citations and references

LIMITATIONS ON AI TOOL USE

The Publisher establishes the following limitations:

Prohibited Uses

  • Generating primary scientific conclusions or interpretations without thorough human oversight
  • Creating entirely AI-authored sections without substantial human revision
  • Using AI to fabricate or manipulate research data
  • Attempting to conceal plagiarism through AI-based rewriting
  • Using AI to generate citations to non-existent sources
  • Using AI to create deceptive or misleading content
  • Employing AI to circumvent peer review or editorial processes
  • Using AI in any manner that could potentially harm the Publisher's reputation or violate ethical standards

Authorship Considerations

  • AI tools cannot be listed as authors of manuscripts
  • All listed authors must have made substantial contributions beyond AI-assisted content
  • Authors must take full responsibility for all content, including AI-generated portions
  • AUTHORS BEAR COMPLETE LEGAL LIABILITY for any consequences arising from AI-generated or AI-assisted content
  • Nothing in this policy shall be construed as transferring liability from authors to the Publisher
  • The Publisher assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or ethical compliance of AI-generated content
  • The Publisher reserves all rights to take any action necessary to protect its interests in cases of misuse of AI tools

DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS

Mandatory Disclosure

Authors must disclose:

  • All AI tools used in manuscript preparation
  • The specific purposes for which each tool was used
  • The extent of the tool's contribution to the final manuscript

Method of Disclosure

  • A dedicated section in the “Author Declaration and Copyright Transfer Form”
  • A statement in the Acknowledgments section of the manuscript
  • Where substantial, a description in the Methods section

VERIFICATION AND RESPONSIBILITY

Author Responsibility

Authors must:

  • Review and verify all AI-generated content for accuracy, relevance, and originality
  • Ensure all references suggested by AI tools actually exist and are relevant
  • Take full legal and ethical responsibility for the entire manuscript, including any AI-generated portions
  • Indemnify and hold harmless the Publisher against any claims arising from AI-generated content
  • Accept that ignorance of AI tool functionality or limitations does not diminish author responsibility
  • Monitor and comply with evolving best practices and ethical standards regarding AI use in scholarly publishing

Editorial Verification

The Publisher reserves the right to:

  • Use AI detection tools to identify undisclosed AI-generated content
  • Request clarification on the extent of AI use when detected
  • Reject manuscripts where AI use has not been properly disclosed
  • Conduct post-publication investigations into suspected undisclosed AI use
  • Engage external experts to evaluate concerns about inappropriate AI use
  • Implement additional verification procedures as AI technology evolves

CONSEQUENCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE

Immediate Consequences

Failure to disclose the use of AI tools may result in:

  • Immediate rejection of the manuscript
  • Retraction of published articles
  • Expression of concern attached to published work
  • Temporary or permanent ban on future submissions to any publication by the Publisher
  • Notification to authors' institutions, funding bodies, and relevant authorities in cases of deliberate concealment
  • Public disclosure of the violation through appropriate channels

Procedural Standards

All investigations and actions related to suspected non-compliance will adhere to:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines and best practices
  • International standards for publication ethics
  • Established retraction and correction protocols

The Publisher explicitly reserves the right to:

  • Pursue legal remedies for damages to reputation or financial harm caused by non-compliance
  • Seek indemnification from authors for any costs incurred due to undisclosed AI use
  • Take any other actions permitted by applicable law to protect the Publisher's interests

No Limitation Period

The Publisher may investigate and take action regarding undisclosed AI use at any time after publication, with no statute of limitations.

EXAMPLES OF PROPER DISCLOSURE

Example 1: Minimal AI Assistance

AI Tool Disclosure:

AI Tool Used Purpose Extent of Use
Grammarly Premium Grammar and style checking Applied to the entire manuscript for language improvement

Manuscript Acknowledgment: The authors acknowledge the use of Grammarly Premium for English language editing.

Example 2: Moderate AI Assistance

AI Tool Disclosure:

AI Tool Used Purpose Extent of Use
ChatGPT (GPT-4) Initial draft of literature review Generated first draft of background section based on provided references; extensively revised and expanded by authors
Python scikit-learn Statistical analysis Used for cluster analysis of patient data; all outputs verified using manual statistical methods
Biorender AI Figure creation Generated initial templates for Figures 2-4; substantially modified with author annotations

Manuscript Acknowledgment: The authors acknowledge the use of ChatGPT (GPT-4) for assistance with drafting the initial literature review, scikit-learn for statistical analysis, and Biorender AI for figure preparation. All AI-generated content was thoroughly reviewed, verified, and edited by the authors, who take full responsibility for the final manuscript.

Methods Section Addition: Cluster analysis was performed using scikit-learn's K-means algorithm (v1.2.0) with parameters [specific details]. All computational findings were independently verified using [alternative method].

Example 3: Substantial AI Assistance

AI Tool Disclosure:

AI Tool Used Purpose Extent of Use
Claude 3 Draft generation Created initial drafts of introduction, methods, and discussion sections based on author outlines; all sections substantially revised
DALL-E 3 Conceptual figure creation Generated primary images for Figures 1-6; edited and annotated by authors
PaperGPT Literature search and organization Identified 40+ relevant studies and organized by theme; all papers individually reviewed by authors
GitHub Copilot Code development Assisted in writing data processing and analysis scripts; all code reviewed and tested by authors

Manuscript Acknowledgment: This manuscript was prepared with significant assistance from AI tools, including Claude 3 for initial draft preparation, DALL-E 3 for figure generation, PaperGPT for literature organization, and GitHub Copilot for code development. All AI-generated content underwent thorough human review, verification, and substantial revision. The authors take full responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the final manuscript.

Methods Section Addition: The computational pipeline was developed in Python with assistance from GitHub Copilot. The complete code with documentation is available in our public repository at [URL]. Conceptual figures were initially generated using DALL-E 3 with prompts designed to illustrate [specific concepts], followed by extensive manual editing and scientific annotation.

RESERVATION OF RIGHTS

The Publisher explicitly reserves all rights not expressly addressed in this policy, including but not limited to:

  • The right to modify this policy at any time without prior notice
  • The right to interpret this policy and determine compliance
  • The right to make case-by-case determinations regarding AI use disclosure
  • The right to establish additional requirements for specific publications or disciplines
  • The right to implement emergency measures in response to emerging AI capabilities
  • All other rights necessary to protect the Publisher's interests

POLICY UPDATES

This policy will be reviewed regularly and updated as AI technology and scholarly norms evolve. Authors are responsible for complying with the most current version of the policy at the time of manuscript submission. The definitive version of this policy will be maintained on the Publisher's website.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Do I need to disclose the use of basic spelling and grammar checkers? A: Basic spell-checkers that are standard in word processing software (like Microsoft Word's spell-check) do not require disclosure. However, advanced AI writing assistants like Grammarly AI or ProWritingAid should be disclosed.

Q: If I used AI to generate ideas but wrote everything myself, do I need to disclose this? A: Yes. Any conceptual contribution from AI tools should be disclosed, even if you did not use any directly generated text.

Q: Can I use AI to help analyze my research data? A: Yes. AI tools for data analysis are permitted, but you must disclose which tools were used and verify the results using established methodologies where appropriate.

Q: Will my manuscript be rejected if I used AI tools? A: No. The responsible use of AI tools with proper disclosure is acceptable. Manuscripts are evaluated on their scientific merit, not on whether AI tools were used in their preparation. However, failure to disclose AI use, or inappropriate use that compromises research integrity, will result in rejection and possible additional consequences.

Q: How detailed should my disclosure be? A: Your disclosure should identify the specific AI tools used, their version or model if relevant, what parts of the manuscript they contributed to, and the extent of that contribution. See the examples in Section 8 for guidance.

Q: What if I discover I used an AI tool after submission but before publication? A: Contact the editorial office immediately. Proactive disclosure, even if delayed, is always preferable to non-disclosure. The Publisher will determine appropriate next steps based on the nature and extent of the AI use.

Q: Am I responsible for AI-generated content that contains errors or problematic statements? A: Yes. Authors bear full responsibility for ALL content in their manuscript, regardless of whether it was created by humans or AI. The use of AI does not diminish author accountability in any way.

Q: What if I'm unsure whether a tool qualifies as AI under this policy? A: When in doubt, disclose. Over-disclosure is preferable to under-disclosure. If you are using any automated tool that assists with content creation, data analysis, or manuscript preparation, it is safest to include it in your disclosure.

This policy was last updated on April 18, 2025, 12:00 HRS IST. Document version 1.0

RSYN RESEARCH LLP reserves the right to change, modify, add or remove portions of this policy at any time. It is the responsibility of the authors to ensure compliance with the most current version of this policy.

Any questions or concerns regarding this policy should be directed to the Publisher at policies@rsyn.org or info@rsyn.org.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

By submitting a manuscript to any publication by RSYN RESEARCH LLP, authors acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this policy. Non-compliance shall be grounds for manuscript rejection, retraction, or other remedies as determined appropriate by the Publisher.

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