IXPath supports responsible use of modern digital tools, including artificial intelligence, when they are used ethically and professionally without undermining scientific integrity, confidentiality, or intellectual property rights.
1. Core Principle
Artificial intelligence is an assistive tool. It does not replace the scientific or professional responsibility of a researcher, author, supervisor, or other responsible person.
The user remains responsible for the accuracy of content, references and citations, data and analyses, conclusions, and compliance with relevant journal or institutional policies.
2. Acceptable Uses
Subject to the nature of the task and applicable rules, AI tools may support work such as:
- Improving language and style.
- Organizing ideas.
- Assisting with initial drafting.
- Simplifying or summarizing material for internal work.
- Supporting certain administrative or technical tasks.
AI-generated output should be reviewed and verified by a qualified person before it is relied upon.
3. Prohibited Uses
AI tools must not be used to fabricate data, create false research results, falsify analyses or references, generate fake scientific citations, misrepresent results, conceal plagiarism, bypass research-ethics requirements, or represent automatically generated content as genuine research observation or evidence.
4. Confidential and Personal Data
Sensitive personal data, directly identifiable health information, or confidential research information should not be entered into external AI tools unless that use is authorized and appropriate safeguards are in place.
5. Disclosure
Where a journal, institution, or academic body requires disclosure of AI use, the researcher must comply with the applicable disclosure requirements.
6. Authorship
AI tools are not authors or researchers and do not replace the intellectual and scientific responsibility of human authors.
