Nature AI Guidelines
Last updated: March 30, 2026
Check AI policies for below classifications
Refinement, correction, editing or formatting the manuscript to improve clarity of language
Policy Summary
Nature permits authors to use an LLM or other AI tool for AI-assisted copy editing of human-generated text to improve readability and style and to correct errors (including wording and formatting changes). This type of AI use does not need to be declared, provided it remains limited to copy-editing and does not involve generative editorial work or autonomous content creation. In all cases, human accountability for the final version of the text is required, and authors must agree that any edits reflect their original work.
Evidence
- The use of an LLM (or other AI-tool) for “AI assisted copy editing” purposes does not need to be declared. In this context, we define the term "AI assisted copy editing" as AI-assisted improvements to human-generated texts for readability and style, and to ensure that the texts are free of errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation and tone. These AI-assisted improvements may include wording and formatting changes to the texts, but do not include generative editorial work and autonomous content creation. In all cases, there must be human accountability for the final version of the text and agreement from the authors that the edits reflect their original work.
AI Status
Writing or drafting manuscript content
Policy Summary
Nature permits authors to use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (including LLMs) when writing manuscripts before submission, but authors must still meet Nature’s authorship criteria and remain fully responsible for the work’s accuracy and policy compliance. Any use of an LLM to generate text that is included in the manuscript should be documented in the Methods section, or in a suitable alternative section if Methods is not available. The post-acceptance category of AI-assisted copy editing is limited to wording and formatting changes and does not include generative editorial work or autonomous content creation. The policy does not specify human review requirements for this classification.
Evidence
- Use of an LLM should be properly documented in the Methods section (and if a Methods section is not available, in a suitable alternative part) of the manuscript. In all cases, there must be human accountability for the final version of the text and agreement from the authors that the edits reflect their original work. Authors are responsible for the accuracy, integrity and originality of their research, and that includes any text produced by an LLM.
AI Status
Translation of manuscript text for the purpose of publishing
Policy Summary
Nature does not provide translation-specific AI policy guidance. The general Springer Nature rule applies: use of an LLM should be properly documented in the Methods section of the manuscript. AI-assisted copy editing improvements to language do not need to be declared. Authors are responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of their research.
Evidence
- Use of an LLM should be properly documented in the Methods section (and if a Methods section is not available, in a suitable alternative part) of the manuscript. The use of an LLM (or other AI-tool) for "AI assisted copy editing" purposes does not need to be declared. In this context, we define the term "AI assisted copy editing" as AI-assisted improvements to human-generated texts for readability and style, and to ensure that the texts are free of errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation and tone. These AI-assisted improvements may include wording and formatting changes to the texts, but do not include generative editorial work and autonomous content creation. In all cases, there must be human accountability for the final version of the text and agreement from the authors that the edits reflect their original work.
AI Status
Refining or formatting of data reported in the manuscript
Policy Summary
Nature does not provide data-formatting-specific AI policy guidance. The general Springer Nature rule applies: use of an LLM should be properly documented in the Methods section of the manuscript. In all cases there must be human accountability for the final version of the text. Note that the image prohibition explicitly excludes text-based and numerical display items such as tables, flow charts, and simple graphs — so AI-assisted data formatting is permitted with disclosure.
Evidence
- Use of an LLM should be properly documented in the Methods section (and if a Methods section is not available, in a suitable alternative part) of the manuscript. In all cases, there must be human accountability for the final version of the text and agreement from the authors that the edits reflect their original work. Not included in this policy are text-based and numerical display items, such as: tables, flow charts and other simple graphs that do not contain images.
AI Status
Generation, refinement, correction, editing or formatting of images, diagrams or other figures for illustrative purposes only
Policy Summary
Springer Nature journals do not permit the use of generative AI image creation for publication, except in specified cases where the image must be clearly labelled as AI-generated within the image field. When non-generative machine learning tools are used to manipulate, combine, or enhance existing images or figures, this use should be disclosed in the relevant caption upon submission so it can be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Evidence
- While legal issues relating to AI-generated images and videos remain broadly unresolved, Springer Nature journals are unable to permit its use for publication. All exceptions must be labelled clearly as generated by AI within the image field. Please note: Not all AI tools are generative. The use of non-generative machine learning tools to manipulate, combine or enhance existing images or figures should be disclosed in the relevant caption upon submission to allow a case-by-case review.
AI Status
Generation, refinement, correction, editing or formatting of visualisations of research data or results
Policy Summary
Nature Portfolio journals prohibit using generative AI or AI-assisted tools to create or alter images in submitted manuscripts. However, they explicitly exclude text-based and numerical display items from this prohibition — specifically tables, flow charts, and simple graphs that do not contain images. Therefore, AI-assisted data visualizations that take the form of charts, graphs, or tables are permitted with disclosure. The use of non-generative machine learning tools to manipulate, combine, or enhance existing figures should be disclosed in the relevant caption. All AI use must be documented in the Methods section, and authors retain full accountability.
Evidence
- While legal issues relating to AI-generated images and videos remain broadly unresolved, Springer Nature journals are unable to permit its use for publication. Not included in this policy are text-based and numerical display items, such as: tables, flow charts and other simple graphs that do not contain images. Please note: Not all AI tools are generative. The use of non-generative machine learning tools to manipulate, combine or enhance existing images or figures should be disclosed in the relevant caption upon submission to allow a case-by-case review.
AI Status
Refinement or formatting of code reported in the submitted manuscript
Policy Summary
Nature requires that the use of an LLM be properly documented in the Methods section of the manuscript. This general documentation requirement applies to code refinement or formatting assisted by AI. Nature does not provide code-specific AI policy guidance beyond this general requirement. AI-assisted copy editing (including formatting improvements) does not need to be declared.
Evidence
- Use of an LLM should be properly documented in the Methods section (and if a Methods section is not available, in a suitable alternative part) of the manuscript. The use of an LLM (or other AI-tool) for "AI assisted copy editing" purposes does not need to be declared. In this context, we define the term "AI assisted copy editing" as AI-assisted improvements to human-generated texts for readability and style, and to ensure that the texts are free of errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation and tone. These AI-assisted improvements may include wording and formatting changes to the texts, but do not include generative editorial work and autonomous content creation. In all cases, there must be human accountability for the final version of the text and agreement from the authors that the edits reflect their original work.
AI Status
Assisting with gathering references
Policy Summary
Authors should document any use of LLM tools, including for assistance that may affect citations and references, in the methods or acknowledgements section. Authors are responsible for the factual accuracy of their paper, including any LLM-produced content, and for correctly citing any supporting work on which that content is based.
Evidence
- Use of an LLM should be properly documented in the Methods section (and if a Methods section is not available, in a suitable alternative part) of the manuscript. In all cases, there must be human accountability for the final version of the text and agreement from the authors that the edits reflect their original work.
AI Status
Presentation of any kind of content generated by AI tools as though it were original research data/results from non-machine sources
Policy Summary
Nature requires that use of an LLM be properly documented in the Methods section of the manuscript. In all cases there must be human accountability for the final version of the text and agreement from the authors that the edits reflect their original work. The confirmed Nature Portfolio AI policy prohibits AI-generated images and requires full human accountability for all AI-assisted content. Presenting AI-generated content as original research without disclosure would directly violate these requirements.
Evidence
- While legal issues relating to AI-generated images and videos remain broadly unresolved, Springer Nature journals are unable to permit its use for publication. Use of an LLM should be properly documented in the Methods section (and if a Methods section is not available, in a suitable alternative part) of the manuscript. In all cases, there must be human accountability for the final version of the text and agreement from the authors that the edits reflect their original work.
