Synopsis
Here I have prepared a provisional draft of proposed AI use guidelines for InterPlex contributors, together with a draft message inviting feedback from our contributor network. I hope that we can finalize an appropriately nuanced AI use policy by prompting a community-wide discussion about the appropriate role of AI in contributions published by The InterPlex. We can aim to finalize our AI use guidelines and post them to the website by the end of June.
1. Provisional guidelines draft
As a general rule, The InterPlex strongly discourages the use of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models (LLMs) and chatbots, in the writing and composition of InterArticles and other contributions. We prefer for our contributors to produce original work that springs from their own intellect and creativity and does not incur the ethical quandaries that AI use may imply.
If a contributor decides to use AI, they must clearly disclose their use thereof, declaring which tool(s) were used and how. In such cases, the InterPlex team will exercise editorial discretion in deciding how to proceed.
An exception may be made for contributors who can make a strong case for the relevance of AI to a particular contribution. For instance, contributors who work with AI in an academic or professional capacity may have good reason to involve an AI tool in their work. In such cases, contributors must still demonstrate that AI tools were used only in ways directly relevant to their argument or analysis. In other words, AI must be employed with a definite and explicit rationale and not merely as a time-saving measure.
As AI technology rapidly develops, it is becoming increasingly difficult to clearly distinguish between AI-generated content and original work. While as editors we strive to be discerning, we also rely on contributors to exercise honesty in this matter. To that end, please refer to our broader editorial, community, and submission guidelines to understand the values and principles of our collaborative community.
2. Message to contributors
Dear InterPlex contributors,
As artificial intelligence tools become increasingly widespread, it is an undeniable fact that many researchers are turning to them in the process of researching, writing, editing, and publishing their work. Like all science publishers facing this unprecedented moment, The InterPlex is thus obliged to consider implementing guidelines regarding the use of AI in contributor submissions.
To that end, we have prepared a preliminary draft of AI use guidelines for your consideration. This draft reflects our current thinking on issues such as originality, transparency, disclosure, and the role that AI tools should (or should not) play in the production of content published by The InterPlex. However, before formalizing any policy, we would like to invite feedback from our contributor community. More broadly, we want to know how members of our community are thinking about the opportunities, limitations, and ethical implications of AI-assisted knowledge production.
We are interested in hearing your thoughts on questions such as:
- Is the overall approach outlined in the draft reasonable and appropriate?
- Are there aspects of AI use that the draft overlooks or inadequately addresses?
- Should different standards apply to different forms of contribution (e.g., articles, interviews, translations, multimedia content, etc.)?
- What kinds of AI use should be considered acceptable, unacceptable, or subject to disclosure?
- How should transparency and disclosure be handled in practice?
- Are there examples from other publications, scholarly societies, journals, or organizations that you believe offer useful models?
- Do you currently use AI in your writing, research, editing, translation, or teaching? If so, how and why?
We hope to develop an AI use policy that reflects the values of The InterPlex while remaining thoughtful, practical, and responsive to a rapidly changing landscape. Any comments, critiques, suggestions, references, or examples that could inform our decision on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your consideration.
Kind regards,
[YOUR NAME]
[INSERT DRAFT GUIDELINES BELOW]
Related
1.2 Contributor guidelines
1.3 Website editorial recommendations
2.3 InterArticle production checklist