Plant Science Horizons

1. General Principles

Plant Science Horizons supports responsible innovation and recognizes that AI tools may provide valuable assistance in scientific communication. However, AI systems cannot replace human expertise, scientific judgment, creativity, or accountability.

• Authors, reviewers, and editors remain responsible for all content produced or evaluated.
• AI-generated information must be critically reviewed and verified by humans.
• The use of AI should always maintain transparency, honesty, and research integrity.

2. Use of AI Tools by Authors

Authors may use AI-assisted technologies for limited and appropriate purposes during manuscript preparation, including:

• Improving grammar, spelling, and language clarity.
• Assisting with translation between languages.
• Improving manuscript organization and readability.
• Supporting coding, data visualization, and computational workflows.
• Assisting with formatting and reference organization.

The scientific interpretation, conclusions, and originality of the manuscript must remain entirely the responsibility of the authors.

3. Disclosure of AI-Assisted Writing

Authors must disclose significant use of AI tools during manuscript preparation. Minor use of spelling or grammar correction tools generally does not require disclosure; however, substantial AI assistance must be reported.

4. AI as an Author or Contributor

Artificial intelligence systems, including ChatGPT and other generative AI platforms, cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to Plant Science Horizons.

Authorship requires intellectual contribution, responsibility for the research, approval of the final manuscript, and accountability for published content. AI systems cannot fulfill these requirements.

5. Prohibited Use of AI

6. AI-Generated Images, Figures, and Multimedia

Plant Science Horizons requires transparency regarding AI-generated or AI-modified visual materials.

AI-generated images must not be used to represent:

• Experimental results.
• Microscopy images.
• Biological structures or observations that were not experimentally obtained.
• Modified scientific data or research findings.

Any permitted AI-generated illustrations must be clearly labeled and comply with copyright and licensing requirements.

7. AI Use in Data Analysis and Research

AI-based computational tools may be used for data processing, statistical analysis, modeling, and prediction. Authors must ensure:

• Appropriate methodology is described.
• Input data and analytical approaches are transparent.
• Results generated with AI assistance are independently validated.
• AI limitations and potential biases are considered.

8. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for:

• Ensuring accuracy and reliability of all submitted information.
• Checking AI-generated suggestions before inclusion.
• Maintaining originality and avoiding plagiarism.
• Following ethical research and publication standards.

9. AI Use During Peer Review

Peer reviewers must maintain strict confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.

Reviewers should not upload manuscripts, unpublished data, figures, or confidential information into external AI platforms.

AI tools may not replace independent reviewer assessment, critical analysis, and expert judgment.

10. AI Use by Editors and Journal Staff

Editors and journal staff may use AI-assisted tools for administrative purposes, including:

• Improving workflow efficiency.
• Supporting manuscript screening.
• Detecting plagiarism or ethical concerns.

Editorial decisions remain the responsibility of the editors and must be based on expert evaluation and journal policies.

11. Research Integrity and Ethical Standards

The use of AI does not reduce the responsibility of authors, reviewers, or editors regarding:

• Research accuracy.
• Scientific validity.
• Ethical compliance.
• Transparency and reproducibility.

Plant Science Horizons follows internationally recognized principles of publication ethics, including recommendations from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

12. Policy Updates

As AI technologies and publishing standards continue to evolve, Plant Science Horizons and Inspire Science and Technology Publisher reserve the right to update this policy.