Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

BELGI: Journal of Islamic Business and Decision Sciences recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) tools may assist scholarly writing, language editing, and other research-related activities. The journal permits responsible and transparent use of AI tools, provided that their use does not compromise research integrity, confidentiality, originality, or human accountability. This policy applies to authors, editors, and reviewers involved in the manuscript submission, evaluation, and publication process.

1. Use of AI by Authors

Authors may use AI tools to assist with language improvement, grammar correction, translation, organization of text, or other appropriate research-related tasks. However, AI tools must not replace the authors' intellectual contribution, critical reasoning, methodological judgment, interpretation of findings, or responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the manuscript.

Authors who use AI tools in preparing a manuscript must disclose such use clearly. The disclosure should identify the AI tool used, explain its purpose, and describe the relevant aspects of the work in which it was used. The declaration should be included in an appropriate section of the manuscript, such as the Acknowledgments or a separate AI Use Declaration. Where AI is used in data collection, data analysis, image generation, or other substantive research activities, the authors must provide sufficient information in the relevant methodological section to explain how the tool was used.

Routine spelling, grammar, and punctuation checking may be excluded from disclosure when the tool is used solely for basic language correction without generating or substantively rewriting scholarly content. Authors should follow any additional disclosure instructions provided by the journal.

Authors remain fully responsible for all submitted content, including material generated or modified with AI assistance. They must verify the accuracy of AI-generated information, references, quotations, calculations, and interpretations. Authors must not submit fabricated data, nonexistent references, misleading claims, plagiarized material, or content that violates copyright or other applicable rights.

AI systems and tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors because they cannot assume responsibility for the work, approve the final manuscript, or meet the requirements of scholarly authorship. All authors must retain responsibility for the originality, validity, and integrity of their submissions.

2. Use of AI by Editors and the Editorial Team

Editors may use AI tools for appropriate administrative or editorial support only when such use does not compromise confidentiality, impartiality, or editorial independence. Any substantive use of AI in editorial work that affects the assessment, handling, or processing of a manuscript must be disclosed in accordance with the journal's applicable procedures.

Editors must not use AI tools to replace their own scholarly judgment or make editorial decisions concerning acceptance, revision, or rejection. All editorial decisions must be made by responsible human editors based on the manuscript's scholarly merit, the reviewers' assessments, and the journal's editorial standards.

Editors must not upload or disclose confidential manuscripts, reviewer reports, author information, or other non-public editorial materials to external AI tools or services unless the journal has explicitly authorized the use and appropriate confidentiality and data-protection safeguards have been established. Editors remain accountable for the confidentiality, fairness, and integrity of all editorial actions and decisions.

3. Prohibition of AI Use by Reviewers

BELGI prohibits reviewers from using AI tools or applications in the peer review process. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to:

Uploading, pasting, or otherwise entering a submitted manuscript, any part of a manuscript, supplementary materials, or confidential review-related information into an AI application.
Using AI to analyze, evaluate, assess, summarize, or interpret a manuscript for peer review.
Using AI to generate, draft, rewrite, or substantively edit reviewer comments, recommendations, or reports.
Using AI to formulate recommendations concerning a manuscript's acceptance, revision, or rejection.

Reviewers must personally conduct their evaluations and prepare their reports based on their own expertise and independent scholarly judgment. They must maintain strict confidentiality and must not use unpublished information obtained during peer review for personal or professional advantage.

Reviewers who cannot complete an assessment without using AI must decline the review invitation or inform the editor that they are unable to undertake the review under the journal's policy. Any concerns about compliance should be communicated to the editorial team.

4. Human Accountability and Research Integrity

The use of AI does not transfer or reduce the responsibilities of authors, editors, or reviewers. Authors remain accountable for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their manuscripts. Editors remain accountable for editorial assessments and publication decisions. Reviewers remain accountable for their independent evaluations and recommendations.

AI-generated content must be critically checked by the responsible human user. AI tools must not be treated as authoritative sources of evidence, and their outputs must not be accepted without verification. Authors must ensure that all cited sources are genuine and accurately represented and that all research data, analyses, and findings are reported honestly.

AI use must not result in plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, copyright infringement, breaches of confidentiality, or other forms of research or publication misconduct.

5. Disclosure and Editorial Compliance

BELGI may request additional information about the use of AI when necessary to assess compliance with this policy. Authors may be asked to clarify the purpose, extent, and manner of AI use in their submissions.

Failure to disclose relevant AI use, submitting misleading declarations, or violating the prohibition on AI use by reviewers may result in appropriate editorial action. Depending on the circumstances and seriousness of the violation, such action may include a request for clarification, a request for manuscript correction or revision, rejection of a submission, removal of a reviewer from the review process, or further action under the journal's Publication Ethics and Editorial Policies.

Any concerns will be assessed fairly and proportionately, taking into account the available evidence and the nature of the alleged violation.

6. Policy Review

BELGI may update this policy as AI technologies, scholarly publishing standards, and relevant ethical guidance evolve. Authors, editors, and reviewers are responsible for complying with the version of the policy applicable to their participation in the journal's publication process.