Generative AI Policy

Generative artificial-intelligence tools are increasingly used in scholarly and technical work, including in software development. TECS permits their responsible use while protecting the accountability, originality and confidentiality on which trust in research depends. This policy is consistent with COPE’s position and emerging practice across reputable publishers.

Authorship and accountability

A generative-AI tool cannot be an author, since it cannot take responsibility for a work or be accountable for it. Such tools must never be listed as authors, and the human authors remain wholly responsible for all content, including any text, code, analysis or figures produced with AI assistance.

Disclosure and prohibited uses

Authors must disclose any substantive use of generative AI, naming the tool and version and describing how it was used, including where it was used to generate or substantially modify source code; routine tools such as spelling and grammar checkers and standard code completion do not require disclosure. Authors must verify all AI-assisted output, since these tools can generate plausible but erroneous or fabricated results, code or citations. Using AI to fabricate or falsify data, results or references, or to manipulate images, constitutes research misconduct.

Reviewers and editors

Reviewers must not upload any part of a manuscript, its data or its code to a generative-AI tool, as this breaches confidentiality, and must not delegate their assessment to such tools; editors must likewise protect the confidentiality and integrity of the process. The journal will keep this policy under review as practice develops.