988368
Mon, Jun 29, 2026
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
| Post date: 2026/06/28 |
The Iranian Rehabilitation Journal recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are becoming an increasingly important part of scholarly research, scientific writing, and academic publishing. AI-powered tools can improve the efficiency of manuscript preparation, language editing, programming, data visualization, and other research-related activities. However, AI technologies cannot replace scientific reasoning, ethical judgment, critical evaluation, or the accountability that is expected of researchers.
The journal supports the responsible, transparent, and ethical use of AI throughout the research and publication process while maintaining the integrity, reliability, and credibility of the scholarly record. The use of AI should always enhance—not replace—the intellectual contributions of researchers.
This policy has been developed in accordance with the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), and other internationally recognized standards for responsible scholarly publishing.
The journal supports the responsible, transparent, and ethical use of AI throughout the research and publication process while maintaining the integrity, reliability, and credibility of the scholarly record. The use of AI should always enhance—not replace—the intellectual contributions of researchers.
This policy has been developed in accordance with the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), and other internationally recognized standards for responsible scholarly publishing.
AI and Authorship
Artificial intelligence systems, including but not limited to ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, Grammarly, DeepL Write, and similar technologies, cannot be credited as authors or co-authors of a manuscript.
Authorship requires intellectual contribution, responsibility for the integrity of the work, approval of the final manuscript, disclosure of conflicts of interest, and accountability for responding to questions after publication. AI systems cannot fulfill these responsibilities.
Accordingly, only human contributors who satisfy the journal's authorship criteria may be listed as authors. The corresponding author remains responsible for ensuring the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all content submitted to the journal, regardless of whether AI tools were used during manuscript preparation.
Acceptable Uses of AI
The journal recognizes that AI can be a valuable research assistant when used responsibly. Authors may use AI technologies for purposes such as:
Authorship requires intellectual contribution, responsibility for the integrity of the work, approval of the final manuscript, disclosure of conflicts of interest, and accountability for responding to questions after publication. AI systems cannot fulfill these responsibilities.
Accordingly, only human contributors who satisfy the journal's authorship criteria may be listed as authors. The corresponding author remains responsible for ensuring the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all content submitted to the journal, regardless of whether AI tools were used during manuscript preparation.
Acceptable Uses of AI
The journal recognizes that AI can be a valuable research assistant when used responsibly. Authors may use AI technologies for purposes such as:
- improving grammar, spelling, punctuation, and writing style;
- enhancing clarity and readability;
- language translation;
- organizing or summarizing ideas originally developed by the authors;
- computer programming, scripting, or code optimization;
- generating graphical abstracts or non-scientific illustrations;
- formatting references or manuscripts, provided all outputs are carefully verified.
The use of AI should always remain under human supervision. Authors are expected to critically review, edit, and verify every AI-generated suggestion before incorporating it into the manuscript.
Unacceptable Uses of AI
The journal does not permit the use of AI for activities that compromise research integrity or publication ethics. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- fabrication or falsification of research data;
- generation of fictitious participants, patients, experiments, or study results;
- creation of fabricated or unverifiable references;
- manipulation of scientific images or research evidence without disclosure;
- concealment of plagiarism or duplicate publication;
- generation of misleading scientific interpretations or conclusions;
- preparation of peer-review reports on behalf of reviewers;
- making editorial decisions on behalf of editors.
The use of AI never transfers responsibility from the authors to the technology.
Disclosure of AI Use
Transparency is an essential principle of responsible scholarly publishing.
Authors should disclose any meaningful use of generative AI during manuscript preparation. The disclosure should identify:
Authors should disclose any meaningful use of generative AI during manuscript preparation. The disclosure should identify:
- the AI tool used;
- the purpose of its use;
- the part of the manuscript in which AI assistance was applied.
Routine spell checking, grammar correction, or language editing using conventional software generally does not require disclosure.
Where appropriate, authors are encouraged to include a statement similar to the following:
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [AI tool] to assist with [purpose]. All AI-generated outputs were critically reviewed, edited, and verified by the authors. The authors accept full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the final manuscript.
Where appropriate, authors are encouraged to include a statement similar to the following:
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [AI tool] to assist with [purpose]. All AI-generated outputs were critically reviewed, edited, and verified by the authors. The authors accept full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the final manuscript.
Accuracy, Verification, and Accountability
AI-generated information should never be accepted without independent verification.
Regardless of the extent to which AI has been used, authors remain fully responsible for every aspect of their manuscript. Before submission, authors should independently verify:
Regardless of the extent to which AI has been used, authors remain fully responsible for every aspect of their manuscript. Before submission, authors should independently verify:
- factual statements;
- references and citations;
- quotations;
- statistical analyses;
- computer code;
- tables and figures;
- interpretations and conclusions.
References suggested by AI should always be checked against the original publications before they are cited.
Confidentiality and Copyright
Authors should avoid uploading confidential manuscripts, unpublished data, identifiable patient information, copyrighted material, reviewer comments, or editorial correspondence to publicly accessible AI systems unless appropriate authorization has been obtained and confidentiality can be ensured.
The use of AI must never compromise copyright, intellectual property rights, patient privacy, or research confidentiality.
The use of AI must never compromise copyright, intellectual property rights, patient privacy, or research confidentiality.
AI-Generated Images and Visual Materials
AI-generated illustrations, graphical abstracts, or educational figures may be submitted when their use is scientifically appropriate and clearly disclosed.
However, AI must not be used to fabricate, alter, or misrepresent scientific evidence. Clinical photographs, radiological images, microscopy images, pathology slides, electrophoresis gels, western blots, laboratory images, and other research data should accurately represent the original observations.
Editors reserve the right to request original files or additional documentation regarding the preparation of submitted visual materials.
Guidance for Reviewers
Peer reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the integrity of scholarly communication.
Reviewers should not upload submitted manuscripts, reviewer reports, supplementary materials, or confidential information to publicly available AI platforms, as doing so may compromise confidentiality, copyright, and intellectual property.
AI may be used only for limited language assistance where confidential manuscript content is not disclosed.
The scientific assessment, interpretation, and recommendation provided during peer review must always represent the reviewer's own independent judgment.
However, AI must not be used to fabricate, alter, or misrepresent scientific evidence. Clinical photographs, radiological images, microscopy images, pathology slides, electrophoresis gels, western blots, laboratory images, and other research data should accurately represent the original observations.
Editors reserve the right to request original files or additional documentation regarding the preparation of submitted visual materials.
Guidance for Reviewers
Peer reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the integrity of scholarly communication.
Reviewers should not upload submitted manuscripts, reviewer reports, supplementary materials, or confidential information to publicly available AI platforms, as doing so may compromise confidentiality, copyright, and intellectual property.
AI may be used only for limited language assistance where confidential manuscript content is not disclosed.
The scientific assessment, interpretation, and recommendation provided during peer review must always represent the reviewer's own independent judgment.
Guidance for Editors
Editors may use AI-assisted technologies to support administrative tasks, language improvement, plagiarism screening, workflow management, or technical checks.
However, AI should never replace editorial judgment.
All editorial decisions—including peer review management, manuscript acceptance, rejection, corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions—remain the exclusive responsibility of the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board.
However, AI should never replace editorial judgment.
All editorial decisions—including peer review management, manuscript acceptance, rejection, corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions—remain the exclusive responsibility of the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board.
Editorial Actions
If inappropriate or undisclosed use of AI is identified during editorial assessment, the journal may request clarification, revision, supporting documentation, or additional information from the authors.
Where AI has been used in ways that constitute research or publication misconduct, the journal will act in accordance with its Publication Ethics Policy and internationally recognized ethical guidance. Depending on the nature and severity of the concern, editorial actions may include manuscript rejection, publication of a correction, issuance of an expression of concern, or retraction of the published article.
Where AI has been used in ways that constitute research or publication misconduct, the journal will act in accordance with its Publication Ethics Policy and internationally recognized ethical guidance. Depending on the nature and severity of the concern, editorial actions may include manuscript rejection, publication of a correction, issuance of an expression of concern, or retraction of the published article.
Citation of AI-Generated Content
When authors directly quote, paraphrase, or summarize AI-generated content, they should acknowledge its use and follow the citation style required by the journal.
Any information, references, or citations suggested by AI should be independently verified before inclusion in the manuscript. Authors remain responsible for ensuring the accuracy and appropriateness of all cited sources.
Any information, references, or citations suggested by AI should be independently verified before inclusion in the manuscript. Authors remain responsible for ensuring the accuracy and appropriateness of all cited sources.
Policy Review
Artificial intelligence technologies are evolving rapidly, and scholarly publishing continues to adapt to these developments. Accordingly, the journal will periodically review and update this policy to ensure that it remains aligned with current best practices and internationally recognized standards of responsible research and publication.
Other articles
Copyright © The Author(s);
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-By-NC 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
Contact Information
