AI Policy

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Edukids: Jurnal Pertumbuhan, Perkembangan, dan Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including generative AI such as chatbots and image generators, can support research and writing. This policy governs their use by authors, editors, and reviewers to protect scientific integrity, manuscript confidentiality, and accountability. It follows the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Scope

This policy applies to generative AI tools that create or alter text, images, data, or code. Spelling and basic grammar checkers and reference managers that do not generate new content need not be disclosed.

2. Authors

  1. AI is not an author. AI tools cannot be listed as an author or co-author, because they cannot take responsibility for the work.
  2. Disclosure is required. Any use of generative AI in the research or in writing the manuscript must be stated in the Declarations section, including the tool name and version, its purpose, and the parts of the manuscript involved. Example: "The authors used [tool name, version] to improve the grammar of the Introduction. All content was checked by the authors, who take full responsibility for it." If no AI was used, state: "No generative AI was used in preparing this manuscript."
  3. Prohibited uses. Authors must not use AI to generate or manipulate research data, to produce citations or references they have not read, or to write analyses and conclusions without their own critical review.
  4. Images and media. Images, illustrations, or photographs created or altered with generative AI are not permitted unless AI is part of the research design or method. In that case, its use must be described in the Method section and in the figure caption. Photographs of children must not be processed with AI.
  5. Responsibility. Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and ethics of the entire manuscript, including any AI-assisted parts.
  6. Editors may use AI-assisted tools for technical tasks, namely similarity checking (Turnitin) and grammar checking, only through institutionally licensed services that do not store manuscript content or use it to train models. The use of these tools is announced on this page and recorded in the editorial process for each manuscript.
  7. Editors must not upload manuscripts, review reports, or decision letters to AI applications that may store or reuse the content, as this breaches confidentiality.
  8. Editorial decisions are always made by people. AI is not used to assess the quality of a manuscript or to decide whether it is accepted or rejected.
  9. Reviewers must not use generative AI tools to read, summarize, evaluate, or write review reports on manuscripts.
  10. Reviewers must not upload manuscripts or any part of them to AI applications in any form, because manuscripts under review are confidential.
  11. The scientific judgment in a review report is the reviewer's own work and responsibility.

3. Editors

  1. Editors may use AI-assisted tools for technical tasks, namely similarity checking (Turnitin) and grammar checking, only through institutionally licensed services that do not store manuscript content or use it to train models. The use of these tools is announced on this page and recorded in the editorial process for each manuscript.
  2. Editors must not upload manuscripts, review reports, or decision letters to AI applications that may store or reuse the content, as this breaches confidentiality.
  3. Editorial decisions are always made by people. AI is not used to assess the quality of a manuscript or to decide whether it is accepted or rejected.

4. Reviewers

  1. Reviewers must not use generative AI tools to read, summarize, evaluate, or write review reports on manuscripts.
  2. Reviewers must not upload manuscripts or any part of them to AI applications in any form, because manuscripts under review are confidential.
  3. The scientific judgment in a review report is the reviewer's own work and responsibility.

5. Violations

Undisclosed AI use or use that breaches this policy will be handled according to COPE guidelines. Actions may include a request for clarification, rejection of the manuscript, correction, or retraction of a published article. Reviewers who breach this policy will not be invited to review again.

6. Policy review

This policy is reviewed regularly in line with developments in AI technology and publication ethics guidance.