Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

For authors

General Policy

Inkunabula: Journal of Library Science and Islamic Information acknowledges that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted tools may be used responsibly to support the preparation of scholarly manuscripts. When applied appropriately, AI tools can assist authors in organizing ideas, improving language clarity, summarizing literature, and enhancing the overall readability of manuscripts.

However, AI must not replace the author’s intellectual role in critical thinking, academic judgment, analysis, interpretation, and decision-making. The full responsibility for the content of the manuscript remains with the author(s).

Author Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for:

• Carefully reviewing, verifying, and validating the accuracy, completeness, and objectivity of any content generated or assisted by AI, including references and citations.
• Editing and adapting AI-assisted outputs to ensure that the manuscript reflects the author’s original scholarly contribution, analysis, interpretation, and ideas.
• Upholding academic integrity, intellectual property rights, and data confidentiality throughout the research and writing process.
• Ensuring that the use of AI tools complies with applicable privacy policies, licensing terms, and third-party rights.

Responsible Use of AI Tools

Authors must understand and comply with the terms and conditions of any AI tool they use, particularly concerning:

• The protection of personal data and unpublished manuscripts
• Limitations on how submitted materials may be stored, reused, or processed.
• The potential presence of factual inaccuracies, fabricated references, or algorithmic bias.

The use of AI to generate content that imitates copyrighted works, real individuals, identifiable voices, trademarks, or brands is not permitted.

Transparency and Disclosure of AI Use

Any substantive use of AI tools in manuscript preparation must be disclosed through a dedicated AI declaration at the time of submission. This declaration should clearly state:

• The name of the AI tool used.
• The purpose of its use.
• The extent of human oversight and editorial control.

The use of AI for basic technical assistance, such as spelling, grammar, or punctuation checks, does not require disclosure. However, if AI is used as part of the research process, its application must be clearly and reproducibly described in the methodology section.

Authorship

AI tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors. Authorship is reserved exclusively for human contributors who meet established scholarly criteria, including making a significant intellectual contribution, approving the final manuscript, and accepting accountability for the integrity of the work.

Use of AI in Figures, Images, and Visual Materials

Inkunabula does not permit the use of AI or AI-assisted tools to create, modify, or manipulate figures, images, or visual materials submitted with manuscripts. This includes altering, adding, removing, or obscuring any visual elements.

Minor technical adjustments (such as brightness, contrast, or color balance) are acceptable provided they do not distort or misrepresent the original data.

An exception applies only when the use of AI is an integral part of the research design or methodology. In such cases, the use of AI must be transparently and reproducibly described in the methods section, including details of the tool or model used.