Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage Policy

Purpose and Alignment

The International Journal of Creative Multimedia (IJCM) supports the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies while safeguarding research integrity, originality, transparency, confidentiality and accountability.

This policy applies to the use of AI and AI-assisted technologies by authors, reviewers and editors throughout the submission, peer-review and publication process. It is informed by recognised principles and guidance on publication ethics and transparency, including the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing.

Human authors remain fully responsible and accountable for all content submitted to and published by IJCM. The use of AI does not transfer or reduce an author's responsibility for the accuracy, originality, integrity, attribution and ethical compliance of the work.

IJCM requires appropriate disclosure of generative AI use, does not permit AI systems to be listed as authors or co-authors, protects the confidentiality of manuscripts during editorial and peer-review processes, and does not rely solely on AI-detection tools when assessing possible misconduct.

Scope and Definitions

For the purpose of this policy, “AI and AI-assisted technologies” include generative AI systems, large language models, AI writing assistants, code assistants, image generators, audio generators, video generators and other generative or predictive systems capable of producing or substantially transforming text, data, code, images, audio, video, graphics or other scholarly or creative material.

IJCM distinguishes between:

• Language and writing assistance, such as improving grammar, spelling, readability or clarity without materially generating the intellectual content;
• Content generation, where AI produces or substantially transforms text, images, audio, video, code, analysis or other material;
• Research use of AI, where AI forms part of the research methodology, experiment, production process or object of study; and
• Creative use of AI, where AI contributes to the production or transformation of creative works, including visual, audiovisual, interactive or design outputs.

AI used as part of the research or creative methodology must be appropriately documented in the manuscript. Generative AI use that contributes substantively to manuscript preparation or creative production must also be disclosed.

Authors: Permitted, Restricted and Prohibited Uses

IJCM permits the responsible use of AI and AI-assisted technologies where their use is transparent, appropriately disclosed and consistent with academic and creative integrity. AI must not replace human authorship, intellectual responsibility, critical thinking or scholarly judgment.

Permitted Uses

Authors may use AI-assisted tools to support grammar, spelling, readability, language refinement, formatting, organisation and other forms of manuscript preparation. Authors must carefully review and verify AI-assisted output and remain fully responsible for the final manuscript.

Basic tools used solely for spelling, grammar and punctuation correction do not normally require disclosure.

Research and Methodological Uses

Where AI forms part of the research methodology—for example, machine learning, model training, inference, data classification, computational analysis or AI-assisted production—authors must describe its use sufficiently within the manuscript for readers and reviewers to understand and, where applicable, evaluate or reproduce the process.

Relevant information may include the AI tool or model, provider, version, date or period of use, relevant prompts or parameters, datasets, evaluation procedures and safeguards, where applicable.

Creative Uses

Because IJCM publishes research and creative work in areas including visual design, animation, film, games, virtual reality, interactive media and other forms of creative multimedia, AI-generated or AI-assisted material may be considered where its use forms a legitimate part of the creative practice, research methodology or subject of critical inquiry.

Such use must be transparently disclosed and must not misrepresent authorship, provenance, source material or the nature of the creative process. Authors are responsible for ensuring that they have the necessary rights and permissions for all submitted material.

References and Factual Information

Authors are responsible for independently verifying all references, quotations, factual statements and sources suggested or generated by AI tools. Fabricated, inaccurate or unverifiable references are unacceptable.

IJCM may request relevant information concerning AI use where necessary to verify the integrity or provenance of submitted work.

Prohibited Uses

Authors must not:

• list an AI system or AI-assisted tool as an author or co-author;
• attribute authorship responsibility to an AI system;
• use AI to fabricate, falsify or deceptively manipulate research data, findings, evidence or sources;
• submit fabricated or unverifiable citations or references generated by AI;
• use AI to conceal plagiarism or misrepresent another person's work as original;
• use AI-generated material in a manner that infringes copyright, privacy, confidentiality or other applicable rights; or
• submit substantive AI-generated content as the author's original intellectual or creative contribution without appropriate disclosure and human oversight.

Authors remain fully responsible for all submitted material regardless of whether AI or AI-assisted technologies were involved in its preparation.

AI Use and Provenance Disclosure

Transparency regarding AI use enables readers, reviewers and editors to understand how AI contributed to a work and supports research and creative integrity.

Where generative AI or AI-assisted technologies have contributed substantively to manuscript preparation or creative production, authors must provide an AI Use and Provenance Statement.

The statement should identify, where applicable:

• the AI tool or system used;
• the provider or developer;
• the version or model, where known;
• the date or period of use;
• the purpose of its use;
• the scope of the material affected;
• whether AI was used for research, analysis, writing or creative production; and
• the steps taken by the authors to review and verify the resulting material.

The AI Use and Provenance Statement should be placed immediately before the References.

Example for manuscript preparation:

AI Use and Provenance Statement: During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used [Tool/Model, Provider] for [purpose]. Following the use of this tool, the author(s) reviewed, verified and edited the resulting content as necessary and take full responsibility for the content of the publication.

Example for AI-assisted creative work:

AI Use and Provenance Statement: Generative AI was used in the production of selected creative elements in this work using [Tool/Model, Provider]. The author(s) directed and reviewed the generation process, selected and/or modified the resulting outputs, and take full responsibility for the final creative work. AI-generated or AI-assisted elements are identified where relevant.

Basic tools used solely for spelling, grammar and punctuation correction do not normally require an AI disclosure statement.

Images, Figures and Multimedia Integrity

IJCM recognises that images, figures and multimedia may function either as research evidence or as creative outputs. The journal therefore distinguishes between inappropriate manipulation of research evidence and legitimate, transparently disclosed use of AI within creative practice.

For research data, documentary evidence and evidentiary images, AI must not be used to fabricate, add, remove or deceptively alter information. Image adjustments must not obscure, eliminate, distort or misrepresent information relevant to the research.

For Creative Practice Papers, Visual or Photo Essays and other creative multimedia submissions, AI-generated or AI-assisted images, graphics, animation, audio, video or other media may be considered where their use is relevant to the work and is transparently disclosed.

Authors must clearly identify AI-generated or substantially AI-assisted material where necessary for readers to understand its provenance. Authors are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, permissions, consent, privacy and other applicable rights.

IJCM may request original files, source material, project files, prompts, generation records or other relevant provenance information where necessary to verify the integrity of submitted material.

Reviewers: Confidentiality and Accountability

Peer review requires independent human critical judgment and strict confidentiality.

Reviewers must not upload a submitted manuscript, or any part of it, including supplementary material, unpublished data or confidential information, into generative AI or AI-assisted systems where doing so may compromise confidentiality, intellectual property or data privacy.

Reviewers must not delegate their critical evaluation or recommendation to AI. AI tools must not replace the reviewer's independent assessment and judgment.

Reviewers remain fully responsible and accountable for the content, accuracy and integrity of their review reports.

Limited language assistance may be used only where manuscript confidentiality is not compromised.

Breaches of confidentiality or inappropriate AI use during peer review may result in removal from the review process and further action where warranted.

Editors: Confidentiality, Decision-Making and AI Use

Editorial decisions must remain under human responsibility, and the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts must be protected.

Editors must not upload submitted manuscripts, or any part of them, into generative AI or AI-assisted systems where doing so may compromise confidentiality, intellectual property or data privacy.

AI tools must not replace an editor's critical evaluation, editorial judgment or final decision-making. Acceptance, rejection and other substantive editorial decisions remain the responsibility of the journal's human editors.

IJCM may use appropriately secured digital or AI-assisted systems for administrative, technical or screening purposes where appropriate safeguards for confidentiality, privacy and human oversight are maintained.

AI-assisted screening does not replace editorial judgment.

Detection, Verification and Investigation

IJCM takes a proportionate and evidence-based approach to suspected undisclosed or inappropriate AI use.

The journal may use similarity checking, AI-assisted screening or other verification tools as part of its editorial assessment. Where concerns arise, IJCM may request source files, research data, code, AI interaction records, prompts, outputs or other information reasonably necessary to establish the provenance and integrity of the submitted work.

An AI-detection score alone will not be treated as conclusive evidence of misconduct. Any concerns will be assessed by human editors based on the available evidence and relevant publication-ethics guidance.

Depending on the nature and severity of the issue and the stage of publication, action may include requesting clarification or additional disclosure, manuscript revision, rejection, withdrawal, correction, expression of concern or retraction.

Where serious publication misconduct is suspected, IJCM may follow applicable COPE guidance and may contact relevant institutions or other parties where appropriate.

Examples of Unacceptable AI-Related Practices

The following may constitute research or publication misconduct:

• undisclosed substantive AI-generated manuscript content;
• fabricated, hallucinated or unverifiable citations and references;
• AI-fabricated or deceptively altered research data, findings or evidence;
• undisclosed AI-generated or substantially AI-modified creative material where disclosure is required;
• AI-assisted plagiarism or translation plagiarism;
• using AI to conceal the source or authorship of material;
• uploading confidential manuscripts or unpublished research material to AI systems in a manner that compromises confidentiality during editorial or peer-review processes;
• using AI to replace independent human assessment in peer review;
• AI-assisted fabrication of manuscripts or paper-mill activity; and
• other uses of AI that materially misrepresent authorship, provenance, research findings or creative contribution.

Cases of suspected misconduct will be addressed under IJCM's publication ethics and misconduct procedures, with reference to relevant COPE guidance where appropriate.

Data Protection, Privacy and Confidentiality

Privacy, confidentiality and research-ethics obligations apply equally when AI and AI-assisted technologies are used.

Authors, reviewers and editors must not upload confidential information, personal data, unpublished research data or other protected material to AI systems unless such use is lawful, ethically appropriate and consistent with applicable consent, confidentiality, intellectual property and data-protection requirements.

Authors should review the terms and conditions of AI tools used in their work and consider how submitted information may be stored, processed, reused or used for model training.

Where AI forms part of research involving human participants, personal data or sensitive material, authors must comply with applicable institutional ethics requirements, consent requirements and data-protection obligations and describe appropriate safeguards where relevant.

Post-Publication Action

IJCM is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record.

If undisclosed, misleading or inappropriate AI use is identified after publication, IJCM will assess the nature and severity of the issue and take appropriate action in accordance with the journal's publication ethics procedures and applicable publication-ethics guidance.

Depending on the circumstances, action may include issuing a correction, clarification, expression of concern or retraction.

Where appropriate, relevant publication metadata and indexing information will also be updated.