AI Policy

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy of the American Journal of Agricultural Science, Engineering, and Technology (AJASET): In their preparation of manuscripts for publication in AJASET, authors can use, in limited ways, AI and related technology for grammar and language improvement, readability, organization and clarifying of content already authored by them and other material that does not constitute principal content of their submitted manuscript(s).

 

AJASET positions the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other AI-assisted tools to support authors in manuscript preparation and publication, while attempting to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity and publication ethics. 

 

Authors may use the following types of AI-assisted tools for limited purposes:
• Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and language improvement.
• Improving readability and clarity of author-written text.
• Formatting or organizing non-substantive portions of a manuscript. 
• Assisting with translation or language polishing. 
• Generating ideas or assisting with preliminary literature-search strategies. In such case, however, the generated scholarly content must be carefully verified by the authors.

Authors remain responsible for all content generated with the aid of AI.

AI-Generated Content 

AJASET does not permit substantial parts of a manuscript to have been produced by AI in absence of proper human authorship, verification and editorship. 

AI tools must not be used to: 
• Generate or fabricate research data, results, images, figures, tables, or experimental observations. 
• Fabricate, alter, or invent references or citations. 
• Manipulate research findings or scientific interpretations. 
• Generate misleading, false, or unverifiable information. 
• Represents the author's responsibility for the content of the methodology, analysis, conclusions, etc. of the research presented in the manuscript. 
• Substantial parts of a manuscript as having been produced by AI and presented as the authors’ original work.

The responsibility of the author for the manuscript also applies when AI tools have been used for preparing the manuscript. The author is responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity and for being correct for every part of the manuscript.

AI Content Threshold

In screening manuscripts, AJASET will use a 25% AI-generated content threshold for acceptance to go to the usual editorial and peer-review process after checking other Journal requirements. 

Manuscripts containing more than 25% of AI-generated content may be considered unsuitable for publication and therefore be withdrawn from review and returned to the authors with a request to substantially change the manuscript or even to withdraw the manuscript from consideration for publication. 

A manuscript with an AI-related score of 25% or below will go through the regular process of AJASET’s editorial and peer-review process, provided all other requirements of the journal are met by the authors.The threshold of 25% AI content is a screening criterion, and does not replace AJASET’s originality checks, plagiarism checks, evaluation of research integrity, evaluation of scientific quality, authorship checks etc. 

AI Detection and Editorial Screening 
AJASET uses AI-detection, plagiarism-detection, language-analysis and other editorial screening tools to assess manuscripts during the initial stage of the editorial process.

AI-detection results may be considered together with: 
• The originality of the manuscript.
• The quality and consistency of the writing.
• The authenticity and verifiability of data and references. 
• Compliance with the journal's author guidelines. 
• Research and publication ethics. 
• Editorial and peer-review assessments. 

While the results of automated AI-detection tools are taken into account, they are by no means definitive. The editorial team therefore reserves the right to ask authors for clarification, to demand additional information, or for a revised manuscript when there is strong suspicion of extensive AI-involvement.

The final decision on acceptability of a manuscript is that of the Editorial Team and Editor-in-Chief. 

Disclosure of AI Use
Authors are encouraged to disclose the use of AI in manuscript preparation. 

Used beyond simple correction for spelling, grammar and language (e.g. for full drafts, summaries, plotting etc.), then authors should disclose the use of AI in addition to indicating the extent to which it was used. 

• The name of the AI tool or system used. 
• The purpose for which it was used. 
• The extent of its use. 
• That the authors reviewed, verified, and accepted responsibility for the final content. 

AI systems cannot be listed as authors because they cannot take responsibility for the content of a publication. 

Author Responsibility
The corresponding author and all co-authors must be able to confirm that all elements of the manuscript, including all original work and proper citations, have been presented correctly and are accurate.
 • Represents original scholarly work. 
 • Contains accurate and verifiable information. 
 • Does not contain fabricated or misleading content. 
 • Contains authentic references and citations. 
 • Complies with the journal's publication ethics.
 • Meets the journal's requirements regarding plagiarism, originality, and research integrity. 

The use of AI does not transfer responsibility to the AI system, software provider, reviewer, editor or publisher. 

AI and Peer Review 
Confidentiality: Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of the papers under review. The confidential content of manuscripts under review must not be uploaded, copied or in any other way transmitted to publicly accessible AI systems or to generative AI tools which could make such content publicly available.

The reviewer is accountable to ensure an independent assessment in the form of constructive comments according to AJASET’s double-blind peer-review policy. 

AI-Related Misconduct 
The following may be considered publication misconduct: 
 • Concealing substantial AI-generated content when disclosure is required. 
 • Using AI to fabricate data, results, references, or research findings.
 • Using AI-generated material that contains false or unverifiable information.
 • Manipulating AI-detection or plagiarism-detection results. 
 • Submission of a scholarly work that was entirely generated by AI as completely original human work. 
 • Using AI in a manner that compromises research integrity, confidentiality, or ethical standards.

Concerns relating to the issues raised above will be handled by AJASET by requiring clarification from authors, allowing them to revise their manuscripts, rejecting manuscripts, suspending the process of publication, etc. As stipulated in AJASET’s publication ethics policy, this journal is strictly against misconduct and takes suitable measures in case of breaches of ethics.

Post-Publication Concerns 
If after a paper has been published, substantial undisclosed AI-generated content, fabricated information, incorrect references, or other issues with the use of AI have been identified, the journal will investigate the matter. 

Depending on the nature and seriousness of the reported issues, AJASET might issue a correction, an editorial note, an expression of concern or even withdraw the publication from the journal’s distribution channels, in accordance with AJASET’s editorial and retraction policies. 

Editorial Discretion
Submission of manuscripts with AI content will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Editorial Office, and meeting the 25% AI threshold does not guarantee publication by AJASET. 

All manuscripts are subject to the AJASET editorial process including editorial screening, plagiarism/originality checking, peer review, publication ethics requirements and the journal decision.