Generative AI Policy

Al Dzahab: Journal of Economics, Management, Business and Accounting recognizes that generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies can support academic writing, research, and scholarly communication. The journal permits the responsible use of these technologies, provided that their use is transparent, does not compromise research integrity, and does not replace human accountability.

This policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, and other parties involved in manuscript preparation, evaluation, and publication. It is intended to ensure that all published content remains accurate, original, ethically produced, and scientifically reliable.

1. Use of Generative AI by Authors

Authors may use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies for appropriate purposes, including language editing, grammar correction, translation, organization of ideas, and assistance with data analysis or visualization.

Authors who use generative AI must ensure that its use does not compromise the originality, accuracy, validity, or integrity of their manuscripts. All AI-generated or AI-assisted content must be critically reviewed and verified by the authors before submission.

Authors remain fully responsible for the entire manuscript, including content generated or modified with the assistance of AI. This responsibility includes the accuracy of factual statements, the validity of research findings, the authenticity of data, the originality of the work, and the appropriate acknowledgment of sources.

Generative AI must not be used to fabricate or falsify data, invent research findings, generate fictitious references, manipulate evidence, or misrepresent research procedures and results.

2. Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose the use of generative AI when it has contributed substantively to the preparation or production of the submitted work, including the generation or substantial revision of text, research materials, images, figures, data, or analytical outputs.

The disclosure should identify the AI tool used, explain its purpose, and describe the relevant contribution to the manuscript. Where AI has been used in research design, data collection, data analysis, or the generation of figures and other research materials, the use should also be described in the appropriate section of the manuscript, such as the Methodology or Acknowledgments section, as applicable.

Routine spelling, grammar, and punctuation checks that do not materially contribute to the intellectual content generally do not require a separate disclosure, unless otherwise requested by the journal.

Authors may use the following statement as a template:

Declaration of Generative AI Use

“During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [name of AI tool] for [specific purpose]. The authors reviewed, verified, and revised the relevant outputs and take full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the published work.”

If no generative AI tools were used in preparing the manuscript, authors may state:

“The authors declare that no generative AI tools were used in the preparation of this manuscript.”

3. AI and Authorship

Generative AI tools, chatbots, and other AI-assisted technologies cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to Al Dzahab.

Authorship is reserved for individuals who meet the journal's authorship criteria and can accept responsibility for their contributions, approve the final manuscript, and respond to questions concerning the integrity of the work.

Authors must ensure that all individuals who qualify for authorship are appropriately credited and that AI tools are not represented as human contributors.

4. Prohibited Uses of Generative AI

The journal prohibits the use of generative AI for activities that undermine academic integrity, research ethics, or the reliability of the scholarly record, including:

• Fabricating, falsifying, or manipulating research data, findings, citations, or supporting evidence.

• Generating fictitious references, DOIs, quotations, or bibliographic information and presenting them as genuine.

• Plagiarizing or reproducing protected material without appropriate attribution or permission where required.

• Generating misleading images, figures, tables, or other research materials that misrepresent the underlying evidence.

• Concealing substantive AI contributions when disclosure is required by this policy.

• Using AI-generated content without appropriate human verification, particularly when it affects research claims, interpretations, or conclusions.

Authors are responsible for verifying the existence, relevance, and accuracy of all references and factual claims, including those suggested or generated by AI tools.

5. Use of AI by Reviewers

Reviewers must preserve the confidentiality of manuscripts and all associated materials received during peer review.

Reviewers must not upload, submit, or otherwise disclose unpublished manuscripts, reviewer reports, author information, or confidential editorial correspondence to external generative AI systems where confidentiality cannot be assured.

Reviewers may use AI-assisted tools for permitted purposes only when such use is consistent with the journal's instructions, confidentiality requirements, and applicable data-protection obligations. Any permitted substantive use of AI in preparing a review must be disclosed to the editor.

Reviewers remain responsible for the accuracy, fairness, originality, and scholarly quality of their evaluations. AI-generated assessments must not replace the reviewer's independent academic judgment.

6. Use of AI by Editors

Editors may use appropriate AI-assisted technologies for administrative or editorial support, provided that their use is consistent with the journal's confidentiality, security, and publication ethics requirements.

Editors must not upload confidential manuscript content or editorial correspondence to AI systems where confidentiality cannot be assured, unless the necessary authorization and safeguards are in place.

AI tools must not independently determine whether a manuscript is accepted, rejected, or sent for peer review. Editorial decisions remain the responsibility of the authorized human editor and must be based on scholarly merit, peer-review evidence, relevance to the journal's scope, and compliance with publication ethics.

Editors are responsible for verifying any AI-assisted output used in editorial work and ensuring that it does not introduce inaccuracies, bias, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential information.

7. AI-Generated Images, Figures, and Research Data

The use of generative AI to create or modify images, figures, tables, or other research materials must be disclosed when it materially contributes to the submitted work.

Authors must explain the role of AI in producing or modifying such materials and ensure that the outputs do not misrepresent the evidence, research procedures, or results.

AI-generated data must not be presented as empirical observations collected from actual research participants, organizations, or other sources. Any synthetic or simulated data used for legitimate research purposes must be clearly identified, methodologically justified, and distinguished from observed data.

Authors must also ensure that AI-assisted processing does not violate research ethics, privacy, confidentiality, copyright, or other applicable legal requirements.

8. Editorial Assessment and Non-Compliance

The journal reserves the right to request clarification or additional information concerning the use of generative AI in a submitted or published manuscript.

Failure to disclose substantive AI use, the submission of fabricated or misleading content, or other violations of this policy may result in editorial action. Depending on the nature and severity of the violation, the journal may request revisions or additional verification, reject the manuscript, issue a correction or expression of concern, or retract a published article when warranted.

All suspected violations will be assessed fairly and on the basis of available evidence. The use of AI alone does not constitute research misconduct; the journal evaluates whether its use complies with this policy and applicable standards of research integrity.

9. Policy Review

Al Dzahab will review this policy periodically to reflect developments in AI technology, scholarly publishing practices, and recognized publication ethics standards.

By submitting a manuscript, authors acknowledge their responsibility to comply with this policy and to maintain the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of their scholarly work.

This policy is informed by the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).