Journal Reviewer Guidelines on the Use of Generative AI

As a peer reviewer for our journals, your expertise and judgment are vital to maintaining the quality and integrity of the publication process. With the rise of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) tools, it is important to clarify the role of these technologies in the review process.

1. Expertise and Trust

Reviewers are selected for their recognized expertise in the field. The editorial team places trust in your ability to critically assess manuscripts based on your deep understanding of the subject matter. Using GAI tools to generate or assist in writing reviews is a breach of this trust, as it undermines the value of the expert insight that you are expected to provide. Reviewers must rely on their own knowledge and judgment when assessing manuscripts.

2. Confidentiality

Reviewers are reminded that manuscripts submitted for review are confidential. Sharing any part of the manuscript with AI tools or other external systems not only breaches trust but also violates journal policies regarding manuscript confidentiality.

3. Legal and Ethical Concerns

In many regions, submitting unpublished manuscripts to generative AI systems without explicit permission is illegal. When manuscripts are input into these systems, the content may be stored, analyzed, and potentially accessed by others, violating the confidentiality of the peer review process. Reviewers must not upload or share any part of the manuscript with generative AI tools. Doing so risks exposing confidential data and may have serious legal implications.

4. Human Judgment and AI Assistance

While GAI tools can be used for minor tasks like grammar checks in your own writing, they should not be used to generate, paraphrase, or structure your review. The review must reflect your personal analysis, ensuring that it is an independent, intellectual contribution to the manuscript evaluation.

5. Acknowledgment of Compliance

By accepting a manuscript for review, you agree to these guidelines and confirm that you will not use generative AI to write or assist with the review. Any breaches of these guidelines may result in removal from the reviewer pool and reporting to your institution or relevant authorities, depending on the severity of the breach.We appreciate your commitment to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity.

We also strongly suggest that you make yourself familiar with the Author Guidelines for the use of Generative AI: https://www.castledown.com/journals/index/author-guidelines-on-the-use-of-generative-ai

If you have any questions or concerns about these guidelines, please contact the editorial office on journals@castledown.com.