Regulations on the use of generative artificial intelligence technologies in the writing and review of medical papers

Generative artificial intelligence technologies (GenAI) refers to models and technologies that have the ability to generate the contents such as text, image, audio, video, data and code. GenAI is transforming traditional academic research and paper writing. To maintain research integrity, ensure the authenticity, accuracy and transparency of researches, and prevent academic misconducts, Chinese Journal of New Clinical Medicine issues the following statements:

1. Ascription of liability

The authors are fully responsible for all the contents of their papers (including the GenAI-assisted parts).

2. The rules of GenAI used by authors

（1）Usage scenarios permitted (subject to certain conditions): ① Research assistance. This includes literature retrieval, topic inspiration, keyword recommendation, etc., but requires manual verification of information reliability. ② Statistical analysis. This refers to assisting in data analysis, but the data must be collected authentically by the authors, and the results need to be independently verified. ③ Language and graphics. This includes language polishing, translation, graphics type recommendation/assisted drawing, etc., but tampering with original data (pathological/imaging/experimental pictures, etc.) is prohibited. ④ References. This includes format checking, automatic sorting, citation generation, etc., but citing the artificial intelligence(AI)-generated contents annotated by the other papers is prohibited (citations need to be explained).

（2）Strictly prohibited behaviors: ①GenAI and its team are not allowed to be listed as the authors (The authors must be responsible natural persons). ② It is prohibited to use GenAI to write the main body of the paper (such as methods, results, discussions) or the entire paper. ③ It is prohibited to create, tamper with research data, charts and audio-visual materials (including pathological pictures/surgical videos, etc.) using GenAI.

 3. Information disclosure requirements

If GenAI is used, the authors must clearly state the name, version and specific purpose of the tool used, the detailed use process and the contribution of GenAI in the methodological part of the text or the conclusion, and give a annotation "The authors have checked the generated contents of AI and assume full responsibility". It is recommended to submit the original contents such as text, diagrams, codes generated by AI.

4. Manuscript review and editing specification

The peer reviewers are prohibited from uploading manuscripts to the public GenAI platform. Once an author is found to have violated the rules, it must be reported to the journal’s editorial department. The journal’s editors are not allowed to use GenAI for the initial review or standardization processing of manuscripts.

5. Handling of violations

After careful consideration and judgment by the journal’s editorial department, if it is determined that the author has violated the regulations on the use of GenAI during the writing of the paper, the paper will be directly rejected or withdrawn. If the violation is serious, the author will be included in the list of academically dishonest authors, and the author’s manuscripts submitted to the journal will not be accepted for two years. If the author is a peer reviewer of the journal, she or he will also be prohibited from participating in the review process. If a peer reviewer violates the above regulations during paper review, resulting in information leakage or infringement, she or he will be prohibited from participating in the review process, and if necessary, she or he must bear corresponding responsibilities.

 The above regulations will be dynamically updated with the development of technology. The latest related document issued by Chinese Journal of New Clinical Medicine shall prevail.