AI cannot be listed as an author
AI tools do not meet the criteria for authorship. All listed authors must be human individuals who take responsibility for the integrity of the work. Listing an AI tool as an author will result in automatic rejection of the manuscript.

Authors are accountable for all content
Regardless of what tools were used in preparing a manuscript, full responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the submitted work rests with the human authors. This includes verifying any content produced or modified with AI assistance - including text, data summaries, and references. AI tools are known to generate plausible but inaccurate citations; all references must be verified against original sources.

Permitted uses
AI tools may be used to assist with language editing, grammar and spelling correction, readability improvements, and formatting of human-generated text. These are acceptable uses and, if employed, should be disclosed (see section on Disclosure).

Prohibited uses
AI tools may not be used to:

• Draft or substantially write sections of the manuscript, including the introduction, discussion, or conclusions;
• Interpret data or generate scientific conclusions;
• Generate clinical recommendations;
• Produce or significantly alter figures, images, or graphical abstracts (see note below on AI as research content).
• Retrieve and insert references in the text and/or draft reference lists.

Disclosure
Any use of AI tools beyond standard spell-check must be disclosed. Disclosure should appear under the “Artificial intelligence use” heading in the Declarations section and should specify: (a) the tool used, (b) the purpose for which it was used, and (c) the section(s) of the manuscript affected. Example: "The authors used [tool name] to improve the readability of the Methods section. The authors reviewed and edited the output and take full responsibility for the final text."

AI as research content
AI is frequently the subject of research published in AIVO, not just a writing tool. When AI or machine learning tools are used as part of the study design, data analysis pipeline, or image interpretation, this must be fully described in the Methods section in sufficient detail to allow reproducibility. This includes the tool name, version, and any relevant parameters. This is distinct from the use of AI in preparing the manuscript itself, and both disclosures may apply to the same article.

Peer reviewers and editors
Peer reviewers must not upload any part of a submitted manuscript to an AI tool. Submitted manuscripts are confidential unpublished work; sharing them with external platforms constitutes a breach of confidentiality. Editors must not use AI to generate decision letters or editorial assessments.

Policy violations
Failure to disclose AI use, or use that violates this policy, may result in rejection of the manuscript. In cases of post-publication discovery, a correction or retraction may be issued in accordance with COPE guidelines.

This policy will be reviewed periodically as standards in the field evolve.