Emerald AI Guidelines

Policy Summary

Emerald permits authors to use generative AI tools/LLMs for copy-editing to improve a manuscript’s language and readability, where this involves modifying existing author-created material rather than generating wholly new content. Authors must clearly and transparently flag any use of AI tools within the work and must take full responsibility for the accuracy of all submitted content, including verifying citations and references. If the required AI-use information is not provided, it may be requested during review or after publication, and its absence could result in rejection or post-publication action. The policy requires authors to verify submitted material for accuracy, including citations and references, but does not otherwise specify additional human review requirements for this classification.

Evidence

• Any use of AI tools, including Large Language Models (LLMs), for the creation, development, or generation of an Emerald publication must be flagged, clearly and transparently, by authors within the Methods and Acknowledgements (or another appropriate section) of the work. Authors must take full responsibility for the accuracy of all content considered for publication and verify that the material submitted, including citations and references, is correct, appropriately correlates with the research, and aligns with Emerald’s research and publishing ethics. If not provided, this information may be requested during the submission and peer review process, or after publication, and its absence could result in the rejection of the work or post-publication action. Copy-editing a submission or a peer review report using a generative AI tool/LLM to improve its language and readability is permitted as this mirrors standard tools already employed to improve spelling and grammar, and uses existing author-created material, rather than generating wholly new content, while the author(s) remains responsible for the original work. Emerald defines copy-editing as modifying existing material created by the author to improve its language, grammar, and spelling, whereas copywriting would be the creation of new material;

Source

• https://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/publish-with-us/ethics-integrity/research-publishing-ethics
• https://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/news-and-press-releases/emerald-publishings-stance-ai-tools-content-creation-and-peer-review

Policy Summary

Emerald does not permit the copywriting (creating, drafting, or writing) of any part of a submission using generative AI tools to generate new material. Authors remain fully accountable for any work submitted. Copy-editing of an author's own original existing work using generative AI to improve language and grammar clarity is, however, permissible. Any use of AI tools must be flagged clearly and transparently by authors within the Methods and Acknowledgements section.

Evidence

• Copywriting (creating, drafting, or writing) any part of a submission using generative AI tools and technology to generate new material is not permitted. Copy-editing (correcting, editing, formatting, modifying, or refining) all or part of an author's own original existing work using generative AI tools and technology to improve its structure and the clarity of the language and grammar is permitted, ensuring users adhere to the following overarching principles. Any use of AI tools, including Large Language Models (LLMs), for the creation, development, or generation of an Emerald publication must be flagged, clearly and transparently, by authors within the Methods and Acknowledgements (or another appropriate section) of the work.

Source

• https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/publish-with-us/ethics-integrity/research-publishing-ethics
• https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/news-and-press-releases/emerald-publishings-stance-ai-tools-content-creation-and-peer-review

Policy Summary

Emerald explicitly permits authors to use generative AI tools to translate the author's own previously unpublished work into English. Authors must declare such usage and remain accountable for confirming the accuracy and integrity of the translated content. AI use must be flagged in the Methods and Acknowledgements section.

Evidence

• Translation [usage table entry]: Translating the author's original existing and previously unpublished work into English using a generative AI tool/LLM (the author must declare such usage and be able to confirm the accuracy and integrity of the work, remaining accountable and responsible for the content submitted). Permitted. Any use of AI tools, including Large Language Models (LLMs), for the creation, development, or generation of an Emerald publication must be flagged, clearly and transparently, by authors within the Methods and Acknowledgements (or another appropriate section) of the work.

Source

• https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/publish-with-us/ethics-integrity/research-publishing-ethics

Policy Summary

Emerald prohibits authors from using generative AI tools/LLMs to generate, manipulate, or report research data and results, including for in-text reporting of statistics. However, using a generative AI tool/LLM to aid analysis is permissible when it is appropriately and transparently declared. Authors must take full responsibility for the accuracy of all submitted material, including verifying citations and references. The policy does not specify human review requirements for this classification.

Evidence

• Generating, manipulating, or reporting research data and results using a generative AI tool/LLM is not permitted. In-text reporting of statistics using a generative AI tool/LLM is not permitted due to concerns over the authenticity, integrity, and validity of the data produced, although the use of such a tool to aid in the analysis of the work is permissible with appropriate and transparent declaration. Authors must take full responsibility for the accuracy of all content considered for publication and verify that the material submitted, including citations and references, is correct, appropriately correlates with the research, and aligns with Emerald’s research and publishing ethics.

Source

• https://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/publish-with-us/ethics-integrity/research-publishing-ethics

Policy Summary

Emerald permits AI-generated images for illustrative or visualisation purposes only. The following types of AI-generated images are permitted: explanatory diagrams, graphical abstracts, teaching illustrations, conceptual visualisations, and process flow diagrams. These images must be accurate, free from errors, and not misrepresent information. They must be clearly labelled as generated by AI, citing the name and version of the tool used. AI-generated factual or evidential images used to support specific scientific or technical claims without any basis in actual research are not permitted. Cover art created by generative AI is not permitted.

Evidence

• The submission and publication of images created by AI tools or large-scale generative models is subject to their intended purpose and potential rights requirements. Purpose is here defined as either illustrative, which is permitted, or factual/evidential, which is not permitted. The following types of AI-generated images are permitted for illustrative or visualisation purposes only, but we encourage authors to check this in advance of submission with the appropriate editorial contact: explanatory diagrams, graphical abstracts, teaching illustrations, conceptual visualisations, and process flow diagrams. These images must be accurate, free from errors, and not misrepresent information; they should be clearly labelled as generated by AI in accordance with Emerald's attribution policy and cite the name and version of the tool used. Cover art created by generative AI is, however, not permitted.

Source

• https://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/publish-with-us/ethics-integrity/research-publishing-ethics

Policy Summary

Emerald permits authors to use generative AI tools to generate figures, tables, or infographics that visualise the author's own already-analyzed existing data, in the manner of traditional data visualisation. AI-generated factual or evidential images used to support specific scientific or technical claims without basis in actual research are not permitted — this is a separate category. AI use must be flagged in the Methods and Acknowledgements section.

Evidence

• Data visualisation [usage table entry]: Generating figures/tables/infographics to provide a visual representation of results based on the author's own already analysed and existing data through author-inputted prompts into a generative AI tool/LLM in the manner of traditional data visualisation. Permitted. The submission and publication of images created by AI tools or large-scale generative models is subject to their intended purpose and potential rights requirements. Purpose is here defined as either illustrative, which is permitted, or factual/evidential, which is not permitted. Any use of AI tools, including Large Language Models (LLMs), for the creation, development, or generation of an Emerald publication must be flagged, clearly and transparently, by authors within the Methods and Acknowledgements (or another appropriate section) of the work.

Source

• https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/publish-with-us/ethics-integrity/research-publishing-ethics

Policy Summary

Emerald permits authors to use generative AI tools to refine, correct, edit, or format the author's own original existing code to improve readability. However, generating code for the research using AI alone without any other human involvement is not permitted. Any AI use for code must be flagged in the Methods and Acknowledgements section of the work.

Evidence

• Code copy-editing [usage table entry]: Improving the author's original existing work using a generative AI tool/LLM by either refining, correcting, editing, or formatting the code to improve its readability. Permitted. Code creation [usage table entry]: Generating code for the research through author-inputted prompts into a generative AI tool/LLM alone without any other human involvement. Not permitted. Any use of AI tools, including Large Language Models (LLMs), for the creation, development, or generation of an Emerald publication must be flagged, clearly and transparently, by authors within the Methods and Acknowledgements (or another appropriate section) of the work.

Source

• https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/publish-with-us/ethics-integrity/research-publishing-ethics

Policy Summary

Emerald requires authors to transparently flag any use of AI tools, including LLMs, within the manuscript and to specify what content was created or modified, along with the AI tool’s name and version. Authors must ensure that any additional works drawn on by the AI tool are properly cited and referenced, with required reproduction rights secured. Authors must take full responsibility for the accuracy of the submission, including verifying that citations and references are correct and appropriately aligned with the research and Emerald’s ethics standards. The policy specifies human verification is required for the accuracy of submitted content, including citations and references.

Evidence

• Any use of AI tools, including Large Language Models (LLMs), for the creation, development, or generation of an Emerald publication must be flagged, clearly and transparently, by authors within the Methods and Acknowledgements (or another appropriate section) of the work. Authors must describe the content created or modified as well as appropriately cite the name and version of the AI tool used; any additional works drawn on by the AI tool should also be appropriately cited and referenced, with any necessary rights for reproduction secured. Authors must take full responsibility for the accuracy of all content considered for publication and verify that the material submitted, including citations and references, is correct, appropriately correlates with the research, and aligns with Emerald’s research and publishing ethics.

Source

• https://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/publish-with-us/ethics-integrity/research-publishing-ethics

Policy Summary

Emerald prohibits authors from generating, manipulating, or reporting research data and results using generative AI tools/LLMs. Emerald states it may reject submissions and may take appropriate post-publication action if published material is found to include fabricated or fraudulent AI-generated content. Any use of AI tools for creating, developing, or generating an Emerald publication must be clearly and transparently flagged by authors in the Methods and Acknowledgements (or another appropriate section). The policy does not specify human review requirements for this classification.

Evidence

• Generating, manipulating, or reporting research data and results using a generative AI tool/LLM is not permitted. Emerald reserves the right to determine whether the use of an AI tool is permitted in a submitted work, and the right to reject submissions and to take appropriate post-publication action on published material found to feature fabricated or fraudulent AI-generated content. Any use of AI tools, including Large Language Models (LLMs), for the creation, development, or generation of an Emerald publication must be flagged, clearly and transparently, by authors within the Methods and Acknowledgements (or another appropriate section) of the work.

Source

• https://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/publish-with-us/ethics-integrity/research-publishing-ethics