MAS Journal of Applied Sciences recognizes the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), deep learning, large language models (LLMs), generative AI, and other AI-assisted technologies in scientific research and scholarly communication.
The journal supports the responsible use of AI technologies when they contribute to legitimate scientific research or assist authors in manuscript preparation. However, the use of AI must comply with the principles of transparency, accuracy, reproducibility, confidentiality, research integrity, human oversight, and accountability.
AI tools must not replace the scientific judgment, critical thinking, intellectual contribution, or responsibility of human authors, reviewers, or editors.
1. AI as a Research Method
The use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, neural networks, computer vision, natural language processing, generative models, and other AI-based computational methods as part of scientific research is permitted.
AI may be used, where scientifically appropriate, for purposes including:
-research design;
-data processing and data analysis;
-statistical or computational modelling;
-prediction and forecasting;
-classification and pattern recognition;
-image and signal processing;
-optimization;
-simulation;
-decision-support systems;
-software and algorithm development;
-automation and robotics;
-processing of large datasets; and
-other scientifically justified research applications.
When AI or machine-learning methods constitute part of the research methodology, authors must describe their use transparently and in sufficient detail in the Materials and Methods / Methods section.
Where relevant, authors should report:
-the name and type of AI model, algorithm, software, or platform;
-the developer or provider;
-the version used, where available;
-relevant model parameters and settings;
-data preprocessing procedures;
-training, validation, and test procedures;
-evaluation metrics;
-validation methods;
-relevant prompts or instructions when these materially affect reproducibility; and
-any other information necessary to understand, evaluate, and reproduce the method.
The use of AI as a legitimate scientific research method is therefore not prohibited, provided that its application is scientifically justified, transparently reported, and subject to appropriate human oversight.
2. Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in Manuscript Preparation
Authors may use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies as supportive tools during manuscript preparation.
Such tools may be used for purposes such as:
-improving language and readability;
-restructuring sentences;
-assisting with organization of text;
-summarizing author-generated material;
-supporting translation;
-assisting with coding or computational tasks; and
-other appropriate supportive functions.
However, AI tools must not replace the authors' intellectual contribution or independent scientific judgment.
Authors are fully responsible for all content submitted to and published in MAS Journal of Applied Sciences, regardless of whether AI-assisted technologies were used during its preparation.
Authors must carefully review, verify, and, where necessary, correct all AI-assisted content before submission.
In particular, authors are responsible for ensuring that AI-generated or AI-assisted material:
-is scientifically accurate;
-is not misleading;
-does not contain fabricated information;
-does not contain plagiarism;
-does not infringe copyright or other third-party rights;
-does not contain fabricated, incorrect, or unverifiable references;
-appropriately acknowledges and cites original sources; and
-accurately reflects the authors' own scientific interpretation and conclusions.
AI-generated output must never be accepted uncritically as scientific evidence or expert judgment.
3. Disclosure of Generative AI Use
Authors must disclose substantive use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies during manuscript preparation.
The disclosure should identify:
-the name of the AI tool or service;
-the purpose for which it was used; and
-the extent of human review and responsibility.
The declaration should be included in a separate section of the manuscript titled:
Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in the Manuscript Preparation Process
The following format may be used:
During the preparation of this manuscript, the author(s) used [name of AI tool/service] for [purpose of use]. Following the use of this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed, verified, and edited the content as necessary and take full responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and content of the final manuscript.
Basic tools used exclusively for conventional spelling, grammar, and punctuation checking do not normally require disclosure.
However, disclosure is required when an AI system makes substantive contributions to the wording, organization, translation, summarization, analysis, coding, or other intellectual presentation of manuscript content.
When AI forms part of the research methodology itself, its use must be reported primarily in the Methods section in sufficient detail to permit scientific evaluation and reproducibility.
4. AI and Authorship
AI tools, large language models, chatbots, generative AI systems, software, and other non-human technologies cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to MAS Journal of Applied Sciences.
Authorship requires responsibilities that can only be fulfilled by humans, including:
-taking responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the work;
-approving the final manuscript;
-responding to questions about the research;
-declaring conflicts of interest;
-agreeing to publication;
-addressing errors or concerns after publication; and
-accepting accountability for the published work.
AI tools may therefore be acknowledged or disclosed where appropriate, but they cannot receive authorship credit.
Human authors remain fully responsible for all AI-assisted content.
5. AI-Generated Data, Synthetic Data, and Research Results
AI tools must not be used to fabricate, falsify, manipulate, or misrepresent research data, experimental observations, statistical results, or scientific findings.
Presenting AI-generated or invented information as if it were authentic experimental or observational data constitutes a serious breach of research integrity.
The scientifically justified use of synthetic data, simulated data, or AI-generated datasets is not prohibited when such data are genuinely part of the research methodology.
In such cases, authors must:
-clearly identify the data as synthetic, simulated, or AI-generated;
-explain how and why the data were generated;
-distinguish them from real-world observations;
-describe the generation and validation procedures; and
-avoid presenting synthetic data as empirical observations.
AI-generated results must be subjected to appropriate scientific validation and human interpretation.
6. AI-Generated or AI-Modified Images and Figures
AI technologies must not be used to fabricate, manipulate, obscure, or misrepresent images, figures, graphs, or other visual research evidence.
AI-based image processing, enhancement, segmentation, reconstruction, classification, or generation may be permitted when it constitutes a legitimate part of the scientific methodology.
In such cases, the use of AI must be clearly disclosed in the Methods section, and the procedures must be described in sufficient detail to allow scientific evaluation.
Any processing must preserve the integrity of the underlying research evidence.
Where appropriate, authors should retain original, unprocessed data and make them available to the journal upon reasonable editorial request.
AI-generated visual material must never be presented in a manner that could cause readers to mistake fabricated or synthetic content for authentic experimental observations.
7. References and Citations
Authors must independently verify all references, citations, DOIs, quotations, factual statements, and bibliographic information suggested or generated by AI tools.
AI systems may generate references that are inaccurate, incomplete, nonexistent, or fabricated.
The inclusion of fabricated or unverifiable references is unacceptable.
Authors remain solely responsible for ensuring that every reference cited in the manuscript:
-corresponds to a genuine and verifiable source;
-accurately supports the statement for which it is cited; and
-contains correct bibliographic information.
AI-generated responses should not be used as substitutes for original scholarly sources when an appropriate primary or authoritative source is available.
8. Confidentiality, Privacy, and Intellectual Property
Authors must exercise caution when entering unpublished research material, confidential information, personal data, proprietary information, copyrighted content, or sensitive research data into external AI systems.
Authors are responsible for ensuring compliance with:
-applicable privacy and data-protection requirements;
-informed-consent requirements;
-confidentiality obligations;
-intellectual-property rights;
-copyright requirements; and
-institutional or contractual restrictions.
Confidential, personally identifiable, proprietary, or otherwise protected information must not be uploaded to an AI system unless the authors have the legal and ethical authority to do so and the confidentiality and security of the information can be appropriately protected.
9. Use of AI by Reviewers
Manuscripts submitted to MAS Journal of Applied Sciences are confidential documents.
Reviewers must not upload a submitted manuscript, supplementary material, unpublished data, figures, tables, or confidential editorial correspondence to publicly accessible or external AI systems where confidentiality, intellectual-property protection, and data security cannot be assured.
AI tools must not replace the reviewer's independent scientific evaluation, expertise, critical thinking, or judgment.
Reviewers remain fully responsible for:
-evaluating the scientific quality of the manuscript;
-identifying methodological strengths and weaknesses;
-assessing originality and significance;
-providing constructive comments; and
-preparing the final peer-review report.
If an AI tool is used only to improve the language or organization of a review report without sharing confidential manuscript content, the reviewer remains responsible for ensuring that the final report accurately represents their own independent scientific assessment.
Any substantive use of AI during peer review should be disclosed to the editorial office where appropriate.
10. Use of AI by Editors
Editors must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and the integrity of the editorial decision-making process.
Editors must not upload unpublished manuscripts or confidential manuscript content to external AI systems where confidentiality and data protection cannot be assured.
AI-assisted technologies may be used in a supportive capacity for appropriate editorial or technical functions, such as:
-technical manuscript screening;
-assisting with journal-scope matching;
-supporting reviewer identification;
-detecting possible duplicate submissions;
-supporting research-integrity checks;
-improving the language or structure of editorial correspondence; and
-other administrative or technical functions.
However, AI systems must not make the final editorial decision on a manuscript.
Decisions regarding:
-desk rejection;
-peer-review selection;
-revision;
-acceptance; or
-rejection
must remain under appropriate human editorial responsibility.
The editor is ultimately responsible for the editorial decision and its communication to the authors.
11. Human Responsibility and Scientific Interpretation
AI technologies may support research and scholarly communication, but they must not replace human scientific reasoning.
The interpretation of results, evaluation of scientific significance, formulation of conclusions, and final intellectual judgments must remain under the responsibility of the authors.
Statements such as “the AI concluded” or “the AI determined the scientific significance of the findings” do not transfer responsibility from the authors to an AI system.
The authors must be able to explain, defend, and take responsibility for the methodology, analyses, interpretations, and conclusions presented in the manuscript.
12. Undisclosed or Inappropriate AI Use
Failure to disclose substantive AI use where disclosure is required, or the inappropriate use of AI involving fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, manipulated evidence, fabricated references, confidentiality breaches, or other violations of research integrity may result in editorial action.
Depending on the nature and severity of the issue, actions may include:
-requesting clarification or supporting documentation;
-requesting raw or original data;
-requiring correction of the manuscript;
-rejection of the manuscript;
-withdrawal of acceptance;
-correction of a published article;
-retraction of a published article; or
-other actions consistent with the journal's publication ethics policies and recognized principles of publication ethics.
The mere use of an AI tool does not by itself constitute misconduct. Editorial action will be based on how the technology was used, whether its use was transparently disclosed where required, and whether the integrity of the scholarly record has been affected.
13. Scope of the Policy
This policy distinguishes between:
AI as a Research Method:
The scientifically justified use of AI, machine learning, deep learning, generative models, and related computational technologies for research design, analysis, modelling, prediction, classification, simulation, and other research purposes. Such use is permitted when transparently and reproducibly reported.
Generative AI in Manuscript Preparation:
The use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies to support writing, editing, translation, summarization, organization, coding, or other aspects of manuscript preparation. Such use is permitted subject to appropriate disclosure, verification, confidentiality, and full human responsibility.
These two forms of AI use must not be treated as equivalent.
14. Policy Review and Updates
Artificial intelligence technologies and international standards for their use in scholarly publishing are rapidly evolving.
MAS Journal of Applied Sciences may review and update this policy periodically in response to technological developments, changes in publication-ethics standards, legal requirements, and recognized international best practices.
Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to comply with the version of the policy that is current at the relevant stage of the publication process.
Last Update Time: 08.08.2026