Magallania, a scientific journal published by the Instituto de la Patagonia of the Universidad de Magallanes, Chile, recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) tools, particularly generative AI systems, can contribute to various stages of scientific research, manuscript preparation, and editorial processes.

However, their use raises challenges concerning originality, transparency, confidentiality, intellectual property, and the reliability of scientific findings.

This policy establishes guidelines for the responsible and transparent use of these tools by authors, reviewers, and members of the Editorial Team, drawing on the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

Its purpose is to ensure that the use of AI tools does not compromise research integrity, researchers' responsibility, or confidence in the scholarly publications of Magallania.

1. Scope and Definitions

This policy applies to all individuals involved in the preparation, submission, review, editing, and publication of scientific contributions in Magallania.

Generative artificial intelligence tools are defined as computer systems capable of producing or transforming text, images, code, graphical representations, or other content in response to instructions provided by users.

The use of these tools is not generally prohibited. However, it must comply with the principles of transparency, human accountability, research integrity, and confidentiality established by the journal.

2. Authorship and Human Responsibility

Artificial intelligence tools may not be listed as authors or co-authors of contributions published in Magallania.

Authorship is reserved exclusively for individuals who can assume academic and ethical responsibility for the content of a work, approve its final version, and be accountable for the originality, accuracy, and integrity of the information presented.

The use of AI tools does not replace authors' responsibilities, nor does it constitute, in itself, an authorship contribution under the CRediT taxonomy adopted by the journal.

Authors are responsible for reviewing, verifying, and approving any content produced or modified with AI assistance before incorporating it into their manuscripts.

3. Transparency and Disclosure of Artificial Intelligence Use

Authors must disclose the use of generative artificial intelligence tools whenever such tools have been involved in writing, translation, substantial text reformulation, the preparation of images or tables, programming, information processing, data analysis, or the generation of results included in the manuscript.

The disclosure must identify the tool used, its developer or provider, its version when applicable, and the specific purpose for which it was employed.

Disclosure is not required for conventional automated functions used exclusively to correct spelling, punctuation, or minor grammatical errors, provided that they do not generate new content or substantially alter the meaning of the text.

When generative AI is used exclusively for language assistance to improve the clarity, fluency, translation, or wording of a manuscript, a brief statement identifying the tool and describing its use will be sufficient.

Example of a language assistance disclosure statement:

"During the preparation of this manuscript, ChatGPT (OpenAI) was used as a language assistance tool to improve the clarity and wording of the text. The authors reviewed and approved all modifications and assume full responsibility for the final content."

When AI tools are used in research procedures, data processing, scientific analysis, programming, or the production of results, their use must be described in the relevant methods section.

In such cases, authors must provide sufficient information to understand, evaluate, and, where applicable, reproduce the procedure, including the tools employed, their versions, and the relevant instructions (prompts) used to obtain the results.

The Editorial Committee may request additional information regarding the use of AI when necessary to assess the transparency and reliability of the work.

4. Responsibility, Verification, and Scientific Quality

Authors are responsible for the accuracy, originality, and reliability of all content included in their manuscripts, regardless of whether it was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools.

They must verify the authenticity of data, the existence and relevance of bibliographic references, the correct attribution of sources, and the consistency of analyses and results.

The submission of fabricated bibliographic references, invented data, falsified results, or content that may lead to misleading interpretations is not permitted.

The use of AI does not exempt authors from complying with the Editorial Policies, Author Guidelines, or Publication Ethics and Good Editorial Practices policy of Magallania.

5. Use of Artificial Intelligence in Images and Scientific Materials

The use of AI tools to generate, modify, or process images, graphs, illustrations, and other visual materials must be disclosed whenever such materials form part of the scientific content of the manuscript.

The modification of photographs, images of archaeological materials, human remains, collection specimens, historical documents, laboratory records, or other scientific evidence is not permitted when such intervention alters, removes, adds, or distorts information relevant to their interpretation.

Modifications intended exclusively to improve the visualization of scientific materials must preserve the integrity of the original evidence and be described whenever they may influence its interpretation.

AI-generated illustrations intended solely for explanatory or conceptual purposes must be identified as such and must not be presented as documentary records, authentic photographs, or empirical evidence.

6. Use of Artificial Intelligence During Peer Review

Reviewers must ensure the confidentiality of manuscripts and other materials received during the review process.

They must not upload complete manuscripts, excerpts, figures, tables, unpublished data, or review reports to artificial intelligence tools unless adequate guarantees of confidentiality and information protection are in place.

Any use of AI to assist in preparing peer review reports must be disclosed in advance to the Editor-in-Chief and must comply with the confidentiality requirements established by the journal.

Reviewers are responsible for the entirety of their reports, including arguments, comments, and references that may have been prepared with AI assistance.

Recommendations regarding acceptance, revision, or rejection must be based on a critical and specialized assessment conducted by the reviewer.

7. Use of Artificial Intelligence by the Editorial Team

The Editorial Team may use artificial intelligence tools to assist with administrative, linguistic, technical, or editorial production tasks, provided that their use complies with the principles of confidentiality, transparency, and research integrity.

Unpublished manuscripts, confidential review reports, or sensitive information related to the editorial process must not be entered into AI systems unless confidentiality and data protection are adequately guaranteed.

When AI tools are used in activities directly involving manuscript content or editorial communications, their use must be appropriately disclosed to the individuals concerned.

Decisions regarding the initial screening, review, acceptance, rejection, correction, or retraction of submissions remain the exclusive responsibility of the Editorial Committee.

Automated tools designed to identify potentially AI-generated content may be used as supplementary screening mechanisms, with due recognition of their limitations and the possibility of inaccurate results.

The results of such tools shall not, by themselves, constitute sufficient evidence to establish a breach of research integrity.

8. Non-Compliance with the Policy

Failure to disclose relevant information regarding the use of artificial intelligence, or the use of AI in ways that violate the principles established in this policy, may result in an investigation by the Editorial Committee.

Such situations will be examined in light of the nature, extent, and consequences of AI use, as well as the information provided by the authors or other individuals involved.

Where appropriate, the Editorial Committee may request clarifications, supplementary disclosure statements, or revisions to the manuscript.

In cases of serious non-compliance that compromise the originality, reliability, or scientific integrity of a contribution, the procedures established in the Publication Ethics and Good Editorial Practices policy of Magallania will apply, taking COPE guidelines into consideration.

9. Final Provisions

Submission of a manuscript to Magallania implies acknowledgment and acceptance of this policy.

The Editorial Committee may review and update these provisions as artificial intelligence tools, research practices, and international recommendations on research integrity and scholarly publishing evolve.

Situations not expressly addressed in this policy will be examined by the Editorial Committee in accordance with the principles of transparency, human accountability, confidentiality, and research integrity.

References

Committee on Publication Ethics. (2024). Authorship and AI tools [COPE position statement]. https://doi.org/10.24318/cCVRZBms

International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. (2026). Recommendations for the conduct, reporting, editing, and publication of scholarly work in medical journals. https://www.icmje.org/recommendations/

Zielinski, C., Winker, M. A., Aggarwal, R., Ferris, L. E., Heinemann, M., Lapeña, J. F., Jr., Pai, S. A., Ing, E., Citrome, L., Murad, A., Alam, M., Voight, M., & Habibzadeh, F. (2023). Chatbots, generative AI, and scholarly manuscripts: WAME recommendations on chatbots and generative artificial intelligence in relation to scholarly publications. World Association of Medical Editors. https://www.wame.org/page3.php?id=106