XHP recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, may assist authors, reviewers, and editors in scholarly communication. The use of AI tools must be responsible, transparent where appropriate, and consistent with principles of research integrity, confidentiality, and accountability.
Use of AI Tools by Authors
XHP journals do not accept the listing of any AI tools as an author, because such tools cannot take any responsibility for the contents they have produced. Therefore, they do not fulfill the ICMJE criteria for authorship. Authors remain fully responsible for all content submitted to XHP journals and must carefully review and verify any AI-assisted output before submission.
Authors may use AI tools to assist with manuscript preparation. According to the principles of transparency, authors who make use of any AI tools must provide detailed information regarding such application of the tools in the Methods section and/or make a clear declaration in the Acknowledgments section of the manuscript. An author's intentional concealment of the use of AI tools will be treated as academic misconduct, and consequently, result in retraction of the article. Use of AI tools solely for basic language polishing, such as grammar, spelling, punctuation, readability, or formatting improvement, does not need to be declared, provided that the tool does not generate new scholarly content or change the meaning of the work.
Use of AI Tools by Reviewers
Manuscripts under review are confidential. Reviewers must not upload unpublished manuscripts, figures, tables, supplementary files, review reports, or any confidential manuscript-related information to public AI platforms.
Reviewers may use AI tools only in ways that protect confidentiality and do not replace their own expert judgment. Reviewers remain fully responsible for the content and recommendations in their review reports.
Use of AI Tools by Editors
Editors and editorial board members must protect the confidentiality of manuscripts and editorial communications. They must not upload unpublished manuscripts, peer review reports, decision letters, author responses, or other confidential information to public AI platforms.
AI tools may assist with limited editorial or administrative tasks where appropriate safeguards are in place. However, AI tools must not make editorial decisions. Final editorial decisions must be made by qualified human editors.
We continue to follow advancements in the field and will regularly review our policy, making cautious adaptations as needed.