With the rapid increase in the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies, the Annals of Communications in Mathematics (ACM) has revised its publication ethics policies as follows:
For Authors:
The use of generative AI and AI-assisted tools must adhere to both international and institutional policies, including the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). AI tools cannot be credited as authors; authorship is exclusively reserved for humans who meet the criteria outlined in the journal’s guidelines. When authors incorporate generative AI and AI-assisted technologies into their writing process, these tools should be used solely to improve the clarity, coherence, and overall readability of the text. Authors are required to specify which AI tools they utilised and in what context in the AI Declaration section of the article information form. Furthermore, authors must ensure that any content generated by AI is free from plagiarism and has been thoroughly validated for accuracy, as AI can produce authoritative-sounding output that may be incorrect, incomplete, or biased. Authors bear full responsibility for all content generated by AI tools.
For Reviewers:
When a researcher is invited to review and provide feedback on a fellow researcher’s manuscript for ACM, it is essential to treat the document with the utmost confidentiality. The manuscript should only be accessed and handled within the boundaries of ethical and professional conduct. Under no circumstances should reviewers upload the submitted work, in whole or in part, to any generative AI tool or similar platform. This confidentiality requirement also applies to the peer review report, as it may contain confidential information about the manuscript and/or the authors. Such actions could put the authors’ confidentiality at risk, infringe on their intellectual property rights, and, in cases where the manuscript includes personal identifiable information, potentially result in serious violations of data protection and privacy regulations. Reviewers bear the responsibility of safeguard the integrity of the peer-review process and respect the trust placed in them by the authors of ACM. The reviewer is fully responsible and accountable for the content of the review report.
The ACM AI Author Policy allows authors to utilize generative AI and AI-assisted tools during the writing process before submission. However, this is strictly limited to improving the language and readability of their manuscript. Authors must provide proper disclosure according to the guidelines in ACM’s AI Policy. Reviewers can find this or similar disclosure in the AI Statement Section of the paper.
For Editors:
A submitted manuscript to ACM must be treated as confidential. ACM editors should avoid uploading a manuscript or any part of it to a generative AI tool, as this could breach author confidentiality and proprietary rights. Additionally, if the manuscript includes personally identifiable information, such actions might breach data privacy laws. This confidentiality duty extends to all related communications about the manuscript, including notifications and decision letters, as these may contain sensitive details about the manuscript or its authors. Therefore, editors should avoid using AI tools to handle these communications, even if the aim is only to improve language or clarity.
The ACM AI Author Policy allows authors to utilize generative AI and AI-assisted tools during the writing process before submission. However, this is strictly limited to improving the language and clarity of their manuscript. Authors must provide proper disclosure following the guidelines in ACM’s AI Policy. Editors can find this disclosure in the AI Statement Section of the paper. If an editor suspects a possible breach of AI policies by an author or reviewer, they should inform the publisher.
