Artificial Intelligence and Automated Tools Policy

Authors

• AI or automated tools cannot be credited as authors.
• Material generative-AI use beyond routine spelling, grammar or formatting must be disclosed with tool, version, purpose and human verification.
• Authors are responsible for facts, references, originality, permissions and confidentiality.
• Generative AI is not an acceptable primary source and fabricated references are prohibited.

Reviewers and editors

Confidential manuscripts, abstracts, files, reviewer reports and editorial correspondence must not be uploaded to public or externally hosted generative-AI services. Exceptional use of an approved secure institutional tool requires prior authorization and disclosure. Human editors remain responsible for all decisions and must verify automated integrity signals.

Images and data

Generative images cannot be presented as primary scientific data. Permitted illustrative use must be transparent, legally compliant and clearly labelled. Non-generative analytic tools should be reported in Methods when they materially affect the work.