American Association for Microbiology AI Guidelines

Policy Summary

The publisher indicates that AI may be used to improve writing and editing, including refining language and correcting grammar, provided it is used ethically and transparently. Researchers must verify AI-generated content. Researchers must also provide full disclosure about their use of AI tools in the writing process.

Evidence

• AI’s ability to enhance readability by refining writing, correcting grammar and making helpful edits are probably the most attractive and popular features. That said, AI comes with the responsibility of ethical, transparent use. Researchers must not only master the technical side of AI tools, but also ensure they verify AI-generated content and provide full disclosure about its use. In this session, Aashi Chaturvedi, Ph.D., Program Officer—Ethics and Integrity at ASM Journals, aims to equip attendees with practical strategies and emphasizes the importance of transparency, verifying AI output, and always being open about AI’s role in the writing process.

Source

• https://asm.org/articles/2024/november/ai-peer-review-recipe-disaster-success
• https://asm.org/asm-ethics

Policy Summary

The publisher indicates that the use of AI in scientific writing entails responsibilities for ethical and transparent use. Researchers must verify AI-generated content and must provide full disclosure of any AI tool use. AI is presented as a tool that should enhance, not replace, the researcher’s creativity and voice. The policy does not specify human review requirements for this classification.

Evidence

• The power and potential of AI in scientific writing, particularly in enhancing how we write, edit, and communicate research is undeniable. That said, AI comes with the responsibility of ethical, transparent use. Researchers must not only master the technical side of AI tools, but also ensure they verify AI-generated content and provide full disclosure about its use. AI is transforming how we write, but your voice remains irreplaceable. Use AI to enhance, not replace, your creativity. Transparency and complete disclosure are crucial for ensuring the journal, authors, reviewers and editors are fully aware and can communicate effectively to determine the appropriateness of a generative AI tool in publications.

Source

• https://asm.org/asm-ethics
• https://asm.org/articles/2024/november/ai-peer-review-recipe-disaster-success

Policy Summary

ASM permits authors to use AI tools for language translation and editing as an explicit exception to its general restrictions on generative AI use in manuscripts. When authors use AI for language assistance, they must disclose this in the manuscript’s acknowledgments section, including the specific AI tool used and the purpose of its use. The policy does not specify human review requirements for this classification.

Evidence

• The only exception to this policy is the use of AI for language translation and editing. Authors who use AI for language assistance must disclose its use in the acknowledgments section of the manuscript. The disclosure should specify which AI tool was used and for what purpose (e.g., 'We used ChatGPT to improve the English grammar and style of the manuscript.').

Source

• https://journals.asm.org/generative-ai

Policy Summary

The publisher strongly discourages the use of generative AI to create figures, images, or data. Authors must disclose in the Materials and Methods section any use of generative AI in any part of the manuscript, including figures and tables. Authors remain ultimately responsible and accountable for the content of their work. The policy does not specify human review requirements for this classification.

Evidence

• The use of generative AI to create any part of an article text or to create figures, images, or data is strongly discouraged. Authors must disclose in the manuscript Materials and Methods section any use of generative AI in any portion of the manuscript (including figures and tables). Authors are ultimately responsible and accountable for the content of their work.

Source

• https://journals.asm.org/generative-ai

Policy Summary

The American Society for Microbiology prohibits the use of images and other visual materials that are completely generated by AI tools in ASM Journals publications. The publisher also states that generative AI may not be used to create visual content in its case report guidance. The policy does not specify human review requirements for this classification.

Evidence

• AI tools should not be used for images, cover art, videos, or schematics. ASM Journals does not allow images, videos, cover art, illustrations or schematics completely generated by AI tools in our publications.

Source

• https://journals.asm.org/generative-ai
• https://asm.org/articles/2024/november/ai-peer-review-recipe-disaster-success

Policy Summary

The publisher prohibits using generative AI to create visual content for its journals, including images, illustrations, and schematics, and it does not allow visual items that are completely generated by AI tools. However, the publisher permits the use of AI tools for image management activities such as cropping, resizing, or balancing color. The policy does not specify human review requirements for this classification.

Evidence

• ASM Journals does not allow images, videos, cover art, illustrations or schematics completely generated by AI tools in our publications. Generative AI may not be used to create visual content. Tools used for image management (e.g., cropping, resizing or balancing color) are permitted.

Source

• https://journals.asm.org/generative-ai

Policy Summary

The publisher’s generative AI policy does not explicitly address using AI to refine or format code included in a submitted manuscript. The policy permits authors to use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies to improve manuscript language and readability, and any such use must be disclosed with the tool and purpose described. Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies should not be used for data analysis or for drawing conclusions from data, and figures, images, or data created by generative AI are not permitted. Authors are fully responsible for the content of their manuscript, including the accuracy of any AI-produced language or information and proper citation of sources the AI may have produced; the policy does not specify human review requirements for this classification.

Evidence

• Authors may use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies to improve the language and readability of their manuscript. When authors use these technologies in the manuscript writing process, such use must be disclosed in the Materials and Methods section (or in a new, separate section, if there are no Materials and Methods) of the manuscript. The disclosure must detail which tool was used and for what purpose. Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies should not be used for data analysis or for drawing conclusions from data. ... Authors are fully responsible for the content of their manuscript, including the accuracy of any language or information produced by a generative AI or AI-assisted technology, and for correctly citing any sources that may have been produced by the AI. Figures, images, or data created by generative AI are not permitted.

Source

• https://journals.asm.org/generative-ai

Policy Summary

The publisher states that generative AI and AI-assisted technologies should not be used as a substitute for an appropriate literature search and review when gathering references. It also cautions that if an AI system’s underlying data does not provide correct credit or citation, then the AI output will also fail to provide correct credit or citation. The policy does not specify human review requirements for this classification.

Evidence

• Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies should not be used in lieu of an appropriate literature search and review. If the data does not give the correct credit or citation, the AI output will not either.

Source

• https://journals.asm.org/generative-ai

Policy Summary

The publisher prohibits the use of generative AI tools to create original research data, and it holds authors accountable for the integrity of their data. The publisher requires transparency and complete disclosure about the use of generative AI tools in publications. Researchers must verify AI-generated content and provide full disclosure about its use. The policy does not specify human review requirements for this classification.

Evidence

• Generative AI tools should not be used in the creation of original research data. Authors are accountable for the integrity of their data (including images, etc.). Transparency and complete disclosure are crucial for ensuring the journal, authors, reviewers and editors are fully aware and can communicate effectively to determine the appropriateness of a generative AI tool in publications. Researchers must not only master the technical side of AI tools, but also ensure they verify AI-generated content and provide full disclosure about its use.

Source

• https://journals.asm.org/generative-ai