Generative AI Policy

SALIK: Studies in Advancing Learning, Ideology and Knowledge recognizes that generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies are increasingly being used in academic research and scholarly communication. SALIK supports the responsible and transparent use of such technologies while maintaining the principles of academic integrity, research integrity, authorship, accountability, and transparency.

Authors are required to disclose the use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in the preparation of manuscripts when such use has materially contributed to the writing, editing, translation, analysis, or other aspects of manuscript preparation.

The use of AI tools does not relieve authors of responsibility for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and ethical compliance of their manuscripts. Authors remain fully accountable for the final content submitted to and published by SALIK.

Acceptable Use of Generative AI

Generative AI tools may be used responsibly for purposes such as improving language, grammar, spelling, readability, clarity, structure, and overall presentation of a manuscript.

AI-assisted tools may also be used for other legitimate scholarly purposes where appropriate, provided that their use is transparent, ethically responsible, and does not compromise the originality, accuracy, confidentiality, or integrity of the research.

Authors must carefully review all AI-generated or AI-assisted content before incorporating it into a manuscript. AI systems may produce inaccurate, fabricated, biased, misleading, or unverifiable information, including incorrect citations and references. Authors are therefore responsible for independently verifying all information generated or modified with the assistance of AI.

Generative AI must not be used to fabricate or falsify research data, results, references, quotations, citations, participants, observations, images, or other research materials.

Use of AI in Research and Data Analysis

The use of AI or machine-learning tools as part of the actual research process, including data processing, statistical analysis, computational modeling, coding, classification, qualitative analysis, or other methodological procedures, is distinguished from the use of generative AI for manuscript preparation.

Where AI or AI-assisted technologies constitute a substantive component of the research methodology, authors must describe their use transparently in the Methods, Materials and Methods, or another appropriate section of the manuscript.

Such disclosure should explain, where relevant, the AI tool or model used, its version or relevant technical specifications, the purpose of its use, the data or materials processed, and the procedures employed to ensure the reliability and validity of the results.

The use of AI in research does not transfer responsibility for the research findings to the AI system. Authors remain responsible for the methodological appropriateness, interpretation, accuracy, and reproducibility of the research.

Human Oversight and Responsibility

All content produced or modified with the assistance of generative AI must be reviewed and critically evaluated by the authors.

Authors must verify the factual accuracy, logical consistency, scholarly validity, originality, and appropriate attribution of AI-assisted content before submission.

Authors are fully responsible for the final version of the manuscript, including any content generated, translated, summarized, edited, or otherwise assisted by AI.

AI and Authorship

Generative AI tools, AI systems, or other artificial intelligence technologies cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to SALIK.

Authorship requires substantial intellectual contribution as well as the ability to take responsibility for the work, respond to questions concerning the research, approve the final manuscript, and accept accountability for the published content. These responsibilities cannot be fulfilled by an AI system.

Individuals who use AI tools remain responsible for ensuring that all authorship criteria are satisfied and that the contributions of all authors are accurately represented.

Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose the use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies when such use has materially contributed to the preparation of the manuscript.

A statement titled “Declaration of AI Use” should be included in the manuscript or in the designated author-information file, as required by the journal's submission system.

The statement should identify the AI tool or technology used and briefly explain the purpose for which it was used.

An appropriate disclosure may take the following form:

Declaration of AI Use: During the preparation of this manuscript, the author(s) used [name of AI tool] for [briefly describe the purpose, such as language editing, grammar correction, translation, or improving readability]. The author(s) subsequently reviewed and edited the AI-assisted content, verified its accuracy, and take full responsibility for the final version of the manuscript.

Where AI tools were used as part of the research methodology rather than merely for manuscript preparation, the use of AI should also be described in the relevant methodological section of the manuscript.

If no generative AI or AI-assisted technology was used in the preparation of the manuscript, authors may state:

Declaration of AI Use: The author(s) declare that no generative AI or AI-assisted technologies were used in the preparation of this manuscript.

Confidentiality and Protection of Research Materials

Authors, reviewers, and editors must exercise caution when using AI systems that may process or retain confidential information.

Confidential manuscripts, unpublished research data, personal information, proprietary materials, peer-review reports, or other restricted information must not be uploaded to external AI systems when doing so could compromise confidentiality, privacy, intellectual property rights, or research integrity.

Reviewers must not upload manuscripts or confidential peer-review materials to generative AI tools unless such use is explicitly permitted by the journal and consistent with applicable confidentiality and data-protection requirements.

AI-Generated References and Citations

Authors are responsible for verifying every reference and citation included in their manuscripts.

AI-generated references must not be used without independent verification. Fabricated, inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable references generated by AI constitute a serious breach of scholarly integrity.

Authors must ensure that all cited sources actually exist, support the claims for which they are cited, and are presented accurately according to the journal's citation requirements.

Similarity and AI-Generated Content Screening

SALIK may use similarity-detection and AI-content screening tools as part of its editorial quality-control process.

As a general editorial guideline, manuscripts are expected to maintain a similarity index below 20%, subject to substantive editorial assessment. Similarity resulting from legitimate quotations, references, commonly used terminology, methodological descriptions, or other appropriately attributed material will be evaluated in context.

The similarity percentage alone does not constitute evidence of plagiarism. Editors will assess the nature, source, extent, and context of identified similarities before making an editorial decision.

SALIK may also use AI-content detection tools as an additional screening mechanism. However, AI-detection scores are not considered definitive evidence that a manuscript was generated by AI. Because AI-detection technologies may produce false positives and false negatives, such reports will not be used as the sole basis for rejecting a manuscript.

Where substantial concerns arise regarding inappropriate AI-generated content, undisclosed AI use, fabricated information, or violations of academic integrity, the editorial team may request clarification or additional information from the authors.

Depending on the circumstances, the manuscript may be returned for revision, subjected to additional editorial or peer review, or rejected if serious academic or ethical misconduct is established.

Editorial Assessment

SALIK reserves the right to evaluate the use of generative AI on a case-by-case basis. The editorial team may request additional disclosure regarding the use of AI when necessary to assess the originality, reliability, transparency, or ethical integrity of a submission.

Failure to disclose substantive AI use, the use of AI to fabricate or manipulate research materials, or other forms of irresponsible AI use may constitute a violation of SALIK's Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement.

The journal's primary consideration is not whether AI tools have been used, but whether their use is transparent, responsible, verifiable, and consistent with academic and research integrity.

Through this policy, SALIK seeks to encourage responsible innovation while ensuring that human authors retain full intellectual responsibility and accountability for all scholarly work published in the journal.