AI policies

Tér – Gazdaság – Ember / Journal of Region, Economy and Society acknowledges that language-based or content-processing tools powered by artificial intelligence (AI) (e.g., ChatGPT, DeepL, Grammarly) can be helpful aids in preparing scientific manuscripts. However, the use of such tools is solely at the responsibility of the authors and must not replace scientific reasoning, interpretation, or authorial accountability.

When using AI tools, the following principles must be strictly observed:

Transparency: Authors must clearly indicate if AI tools have been used at any manuscript development stage (e.g., text generation, language editing, image generation, or data visualization). This information must be included in the Methods or Acknowledgements section.

This applies particularly to:

  • text generation and stylistic editing,
  • translation,
  • AI-generated images for illustrative purposes.

Responsibility: Authors bear full responsibility for any content generated by AI tools. Since AI systems cannot assume legal or scientific responsibility, they may not be listed as authors or co-authors.

Content Integrity

Authors must ensure that any content generated using AI:

  • does not contain false, fabricated, or misleading information,
  • does not violate copyright,
  • does not constitute plagiarism.
    Unverified or unethical use of AI may lead to rejection of the manuscript or, in severe cases, retraction of a published article.

Ethical Requirements

  • The authors must transparently disclose all AI use.
  • AI tools cannot be credited as authors or contributors.
  • Authors are responsible for the scientific quality and legal compliance.
  • Copyrighted or confidential information must only be processed using AI tools if the tools do not store or learn from such input.
  • Authors must comply with copyright and usage rights associated with AI-generated texts, figures, or illustrations.

AI-Generated Images, Figures, and Visualizations

Usage and Limitations: AI-generated visual content (e.g., from tools like DALL·E or Midjourney) may only serve an illustrative or supplementary purpose, and must not replace empirical research data.

Attribution: For every AI-generated figure or image, the following must be indicated; the name of the tool used, a statement that the content is not based on empirical data, how the content was generated (e.g., based on a prompt).

Use of AI in the Review and Editorial Process

For Reviewers

  • Reviewers must not use open-access, data-storing AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) to process the text of submitted manuscripts.
  • Manuscript content must be treated as strictly confidential.
  • Only closed, non-learning systems may be used for technical purposes (e.g., grammar checks), and only with prior editorial approval.

For Editors

  • Editors may use AI tools only for supportive tasks, such as assisting in plagiarism detection or identifying technical inconsistencies.
  • AI tools must not be used to make editorial decisions or to automate content evaluation.