GenAI Policy

Anesthesiology (AOJ) recognizes the growing use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the research and writing process. This policy outlines the journal's expectations regarding the responsible use and disclosure of such tools, consistent with the journal's broader Publication Ethics commitments.

AI Cannot Be Listed as an Author

Generative AI tools, including large language models such as ChatGPT and similar technologies, cannot be listed as an author or co-author on any manuscript submitted to AOJ, consistent with ICMJE's authorship criteria. Authorship requires the capacity to take responsibility and accountability for the work, which an AI tool cannot fulfill. All listed human authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the entire manuscript, including any content generated with the assistance of AI tools.

Disclosure Requirement

Where generative AI tools have been used in the preparation of a manuscript — including for drafting text, editing language, generating or analyzing figures, or assisting with data analysis — authors must disclose this use in the Methods section or Acknowledgments, specifying which tool was used and for what purpose, consistent with the journal's Author Guidelines.

Prohibited Uses

Generative AI tools must not be used to fabricate data, results, or citations. Authors must not use AI tools to generate fictitious references or to misrepresent AI-generated content as original human-authored analysis or interpretation, consistent with the journal's Citation Policy. AI tools must never be used to generate, alter, or fabricate intraoperative or physiological monitoring images. Any manuscript found to contain fabricated AI-generated citations, data, or images will be treated as a serious breach of the journal's Publication Ethics policy.

Author Verification Responsibility

Authors remain fully responsible for verifying the accuracy of any content produced with the assistance of generative AI tools, including checking for factual errors, inappropriate or biased content, and ensuring that all cited literature genuinely exists and is accurately represented. AI-generated text is not exempt from the journal's standard requirements regarding plagiarism and originality (see Plagiarism Policy).

Use in Peer Review

Reviewers and editors are prohibited from uploading confidential manuscript content into external generative AI tools, as doing so may violate the confidentiality obligations owed to authors under the journal's Peer Review Policy and could result in unauthorized disclosure of unpublished research.

Evolving Guidance

As generative AI technology and its use within scholarly publishing continues to evolve, this policy may be updated to reflect emerging best practices and guidance from organizations such as COPE and the ICMJE.