Generative AI for Author

This page summarises the obligations of authors of Advance Sustainable Science, Engineering and Technology (ASSET) regarding generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and AI-assisted technologies in preparing manuscripts and conducting the research reported in them. It is derived from, and must be read together with, the full ASSET Generative AI Policy, which prevails in case of any difference.

1. Core Principles

  • Authors remain fully responsible for all content; using AI does not transfer responsibility to the AI system.
  • All AI-generated output must be critically evaluated and independently verified.
  • AI must not be used to fabricate or falsify data, results, references, or sources, or to facilitate plagiarism.
  • Confidential, unpublished, or personal data must not be disclosed to external AI systems in a way that compromises confidentiality, privacy, or intellectual property.

2. Acceptable Use

Authors may use GenAI or AI-assisted tools responsibly, for example for:

  • improving grammar, spelling, language, clarity, and readability;
  • translation;
  • organising or structuring content and brainstorming ideas;
  • summarising literature or other materials;
  • coding assistance and assisting with data analysis.

AI tools must not replace the authors' own intellectual contribution, critical thinking, analysis, interpretation, or scholarly judgment.

3. AI Is Not an Author

GenAI systems and AI-assisted tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors. Authorship requires a human who can take responsibility for the content, approve the final version, agree to submission, and respond to questions about the work. AI tools may be acknowledged, but acknowledgement is not authorship.

4. Mandatory GenAI Declaration

Every manuscript submitted to ASSET must contain a Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies, placed immediately before the References, whether or not AI was used. Authors must also complete this declaration in the submission system.

If no AI was used:

The authors declare that no Generative AI or AI-assisted technologies were used in the preparation of this manuscript or in the research process reported in this article.

If AI was used:

During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [name of tool/service] for [describe the purpose and nature of use]. The authors reviewed and verified the AI-assisted output, made the necessary revisions, and take full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and final content of the manuscript.

Disclosure of the specific tool is particularly required when AI was used to generate or substantially rewrite text; generate or modify figures, tables, or images; translate substantial portions; generate analytical or interpretive content; generate, select, or modify references; or generate code incorporated into the research or manuscript. Routine spelling and grammar correction does not need to be described, but the declaration itself remains mandatory.

5. AI in the Research Process

Using AI as a research instrument, analytical tool, experimental system, or object of study is not prohibited. Where AI forms part of the methodology, describe it in the Methods section, including the tool or model name, version or date of access, provider, and how it was used.

6. Images, Figures, and Other Content

AI-generated or AI-modified content must not misrepresent research evidence, fabricate results, create misleading research images, conceal data manipulation, infringe intellectual-property rights, or mislead readers about its origin. AI-generated illustrations must be declared, and AI-assisted image processing that affects findings must be described in the manuscript.

7. References and Citations

Authors are responsible for the existence and accuracy of every reference. Any reference suggested or modified by AI must be verified against the original source. Fabricated publications, nonexistent authors or DOIs, incorrect bibliographic data, or fabricated quotations must never be included.

8. Misconduct

Failure to make the required declaration, making a false declaration, fabricating data or references, or misleading presentation of AI-generated content may be treated as research or publication misconduct and handled under ASSET publication-ethics procedures.

See also: Generative AI Policy | Generative AI for Editor | Generative AI for Reviewer