Artificial Intelligence and Automated Tools

Impact Journals permits the use of automated and artificial intelligence–assisted tools as part of its editorial quality-control processes. These tools are used to support, not replace, human editorial judgement. AI-assisted checks may be applied to manuscripts to help identify issues related to structure, grammar, clarity, reference formatting, readability, plagiarism, and adherence to reporting guidelines such as CONSORT, PRISMA, and related checklists. These tools may also suggest formatting or layout adjustments intended to support efficient production workflows. AI systems do not make editorial decisions, determine acceptance or rejection, assign reviewers, or generate peer-review reports. All editorial decisions remain the responsibility of qualified human editors, informed by peer review where applicable.

Human oversight and governance

AI-assisted outputs are reviewed by editors, who decide whether to accept, modify, or disregard any suggested changes. No alteration to an author’s text is implemented without human approval, ensuring that nuance, disciplinary conventions, and authorial intent are respected. Manuscript files and associated data are processed on secure, UK-based servers and are not used to train external or third-party models.

Author use of AI and transparency (GAIT)

Impact Journals recognises that authors may use AI tools, particularly for language editing, coding assistance, or figure preparation. When generative AI tools have been used, authors are required to include a Generative-AI Transparency (GAIT) statement at submission.

GAIT was developed by the GAIT 2024 Collaborative Group and aligns with current guidance from ICMJE, COPE, and WAME. The statement should address the following domains: the tool used (name, provider, version), the purpose of use, the section or sections affected, a summary or disclosure of prompts (or inclusion as supplementary material), and confirmation of human oversight with full author responsibility.

An example GAIT statement is as follows. “ChatGPT (GPT-4, OpenAI, May 2025) was used to improve grammar and clarity in the Introduction and Discussion. Prompts are listed in Supplementary Table S1. All outputs were reviewed and edited by the authors, who accept full responsibility for the final content.”

The GAIT guidance is published as: GAIT 2024 Collaborative Group. Generative Artificial Intelligence Transparency in scientific writing: the GAIT 2024 guidance. Impact Surgery, 2(1), 6–11. https://doi.org/10.62463/surgery.134

Alignment with external guidance

This policy is consistent with international recommendations on AI use in scholarly publishing, including guidance from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, the Committee on Publication Ethics, and the World Association of Medical Editors. AI systems are not listed as authors, and the generation of patient-identifiable text or images using AI is prohibited.

Ongoing review

AI technologies and regulatory expectations continue to evolve. Impact Journals periodically reviews its AI-related practices in light of new models, formal guidance, and community feedback. AI is used to enhance quality, consistency, and efficiency, while scholarly responsibility and accountability remain fully human.