AI Policy
Big.D recognizes the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in academic research, engineering design, and scholarly publishing. AI technologies, including generative AI and large language models (LLMs), offer new opportunities for scientific discovery, computational analysis, technological innovation, and the communication of research findings. However, their use also raises important concerns regarding academic integrity, transparency, accountability, and research ethics.
As an interdisciplinary journal dedicated to design-enabled engineering, intelligent technologies, and sustainable systems, Big.D supports the responsible use of AI technologies in research and publication. The journal distinguishes between the use of AI as a legitimate research method and its use as an auxiliary tool in manuscript preparation.
The following policy establishes principles for the ethical and transparent use of AI by authors, reviewers, and editors.
Authorship
Big.D follows the position of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) regarding authorship and AI tools.
l AI tools, including generative AI systems and large language models, cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of a manuscript. Authorship requires intellectual responsibility and accountability for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the published work, which AI systems cannot assume.
l AI tools cannot approve manuscripts, declare conflicts of interest, or manage copyright and licensing agreements.
l All authors remain fully responsible for the content of their submitted manuscripts, including any material developed or modified with the assistance of AI technologies.
Transparency in the Use of AI
Big.D requires authors to disclose the use of AI technologies when such use extends beyond basic language editing and proofreading.
l Basic AI-assisted language improvements, including spelling correction, grammar checking, and improvements in readability or linguistic clarity, generally do not require disclosure, although acknowledgment of such assistance is encouraged.
l When generative AI tools are used for substantial purposes, such as drafting or revising scientific content, summarizing literature, assisting with data analysis, generating code, or preparing research-related materials, authors must clearly disclose their use.
l The disclosure should identify the AI tool, its purpose, and the nature of its contribution. Where relevant, authors should provide the tool name, version, and sufficient methodological information to support transparency and reproducibility.
l AI assistance in manuscript preparation should be disclosed in an appropriate statement or acknowledgment. AI use directly related to the research methodology should be described in the Methods section or another relevant section of the manuscript.
l Authors must carefully review and verify all AI-assisted content, including scientific statements, references, data interpretations, and conclusions.
l Big.D reserves the right to request additional information regarding AI use and to take appropriate editorial action when substantial AI assistance has not been disclosed.
AI in Research and Engineering Design
Big.D recognizes artificial intelligence, machine learning, computational intelligence, and generative design as legitimate research methods and important areas of technological innovation.
The use of AI technologies in research is permitted when scientifically justified and consistent with accepted standards of research integrity and reproducibility.
Such applications may include, but are not limited to, computational design and optimization, machine learning and predictive modeling, digital twins, intelligent control, autonomous systems, generative and AI-assisted engineering design, materials discovery, manufacturing optimization, biomedical engineering, environmental modeling, and data-driven engineering.
When AI technologies form part of the research methodology, authors must provide sufficient information about the models, algorithms, datasets, computational procedures, and validation methods used to enable appropriate scientific evaluation.
AI-generated results must be supported by suitable verification, quantitative evaluation, experimental evidence, numerical validation, or other methods appropriate to the study.
The use of AI as a research tool does not reduce the authors' responsibility for the reliability, originality, and scientific validity of their findings.
Machine Translation
Big.D recognizes that AI-assisted translation tools may help researchers prepare manuscripts in languages other than their native language.
However, machine-translated content must be carefully reviewed and edited by the authors or qualified language professionals to ensure scientific accuracy, clarity, and consistency of technical terminology.
Authors should not rely solely on unverified machine translations, particularly when translating complex scientific concepts, technical descriptions, or research findings.
The use of AI tools to translate substantial portions of a manuscript or an entire manuscript must be disclosed in the submitted work.
Use of AI-Generated Images, Figures, and Videos
Big.D does not permit the use of AI technologies to fabricate, falsify, or misleadingly manipulate scientific images, experimental data, research results, or other forms of evidence.
The use of AI-generated or AI-modified visual materials may be permitted when scientifically justified and directly relevant to the research. Examples include:
l AI-generated images or designs that constitute research outputs, such as those produced through generative design, computational modeling, or machine learning;
l AI-assisted image processing, reconstruction, segmentation, or analysis used as part of a documented research methodology;
l Visualizations derived from verifiable research data, simulations, or computational results;
l AI-generated images, figures, or videos that are themselves subjects of scientific investigation or evaluation.
In such cases, authors must clearly identify the AI-generated or AI-modified materials and describe the relevant tools, methods, and validation procedures in the manuscript.
AI-generated visual content must not be presented as authentic experimental observations, clinical evidence, or real-world measurements unless its evidentiary basis has been appropriately established and disclosed.
The use of AI-generated decorative images or illustrations without a clear scientific purpose is generally discouraged and may be subject to editorial restriction.
The editorial team will evaluate the acceptability of AI-generated visual materials on a case-by-case basis.
Research Integrity and Data Reliability
Authors must ensure that AI-assisted research complies with established principles of scientific integrity, data accuracy, reproducibility, and responsible research conduct.
AI technologies must not be used to fabricate experimental measurements, generate fictitious research findings, manipulate statistical results, create false references, or misrepresent scientific evidence.
When AI is used in data processing, modeling, simulation, or statistical analysis, authors must provide sufficient information to allow appropriate assessment of the methods and reliability of the results.
For studies involving human participants, biomedical data, personal information, or other sensitive materials, authors must ensure that AI-related data processing complies with applicable ethical approvals, privacy requirements, and data protection regulations.
Authors remain fully accountable for the scientific validity and ethical integrity of their research, regardless of the technologies employed.
Peer Review
To protect the confidentiality and integrity of the peer review process, reviewers must not upload unpublished manuscripts, supplementary materials, figures, research data, or confidential editorial communications to external AI platforms.
The scientific evaluation of a manuscript must remain the responsibility of the human reviewer. AI-generated assessments must not replace independent scholarly judgment.
Reviewers must not use AI tools to generate substantive peer review reports or evaluate confidential manuscript content without prior authorization from the editorial office and appropriate confidentiality safeguards.
Reviewers remain fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, objectivity, and integrity of their assessments.
Editorial Responsibility
Big.D is committed to maintaining human oversight and accountability throughout the editorial and publication processes.
Editors must ensure that any use of AI technologies in editorial workflows is consistent with the journal's standards of confidentiality, transparency, and publication ethics.
AI tools must not replace human editorial judgment in evaluating research quality, originality, methodological rigor, or publication suitability.
Final editorial decisions remain the responsibility of the journal's human editors.
Compliance with the Policy
Failure to disclose substantial AI use, misrepresentation of AI-generated content, fabrication of research materials, or other inappropriate applications of AI may constitute a violation of the journal's publication ethics policies.
Where concerns arise, Big.D may request clarification, supporting documentation, revisions, or additional verification.
Depending on the nature and severity of the issue, the journal may take appropriate editorial action, including rejection, correction, or retraction, in accordance with established publication ethics procedures.
Big.D will periodically review and update this policy to reflect developments in AI technologies and international scholarly publishing standards.
