AI policy for peer reviewers

Peer reviewers are trusted by the scientific field to provide expert assessment and constructive feedback on unpublished manuscripts. The critical thinking and independent evaluation inherent in this process is integral to science.

AI tools may provide valuable support, but they can also generate incorrect, incomplete, or biased evaluations. Reviewers remain responsible for the accuracy of their review reports.

Important: Reviewers must not upload submission materials, including any cover letter, response to reviewers, text, data, or figures into an AI tool. This protects the confidentiality of the process and respects the author’s rights.

Appropriate use of AI during the review process might include:

• Editing support such as improving the tone and language of their review report;
• Organization of thoughts or feedback;
• Related research such as the methodologies or statistical analyses used in the research, without disclosing confidential information from the unpublished manuscript;
• Draft translation of review.

Reviewers should disclose AI use in their review submission, including the tool used and purpose of the use. Journals may ask that you include this disclosure in your comments to the editor or in a separate field.

Example

[Name of tool] was used during the preparation of the report for [Reason]. I reviewed and edited the content as necessary, and I take full responsibility for the contents of the review report.