Use of Generative AI

USE OF GENERATIVE AI

With the development of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI‑assisted technologies, which are increasingly used in the creation of scientific manuscripts, the Russian Journal of Regional Studies has developed a policy to regulate their use. The Journal adheres to the principles of reasonable transparency and trust in authors. Therefore, the policy focuses on key aspects, namely scientific integrity, data verification, and confidentiality protection. The Journal will closely monitor developments in this area and adjust its policy if necessary.

POLICY FOR AUTHORS

Permissible Uses of AI

1. Improving readability, stylistic and , no separate mention in the article text is required.
2. Data processing, analysis of text corpora, or calculations, if this is part of the research methodology. In this case, the use of AI must be described in the Materials and Methods section, including: the name and version of the tool; the purpose of its application; measures taken to verify the results.
3. Using AI tools to create graphs, charts, and diagrams based on real data verified by the author, as well as technical adjustments that do not distort the meaning of the data.
4. Searching for and systematizing publicly checking the formatting of bibliographic references — provided that the author conducts a mandatory manual check.
5. Checking the manuscript using specialized secure AI‑based systems designed for analyzing structure, compliance with the Journal’s requirements, and plagiarism detection — provided that such systems do not use uploaded materials for model training.

Impermissible Uses of AI

1. Listing AI tools as authors or co‑authors, since authorship implies responsibility that can only be borne by a human.
2. Publishing text, data, or conclusions generated or processed by AI without thorough cross‑checking. The author must personally eliminate unverified facts, non‑existent references, and incorrect interpretations.
3. Using generative AI to create synthetic images that imitate research data.

Author Responsibility

Authors bear full responsibility for the content of their work. The Editorial Board reserves the right to clarify the extent and nature of AI involvement in the preparation of the manuscript during its review.

POLICY FOR REVIEWERS

Permissible Uses of AI

1. Assistance in refining the wording, style, and structure of the review text — provided that the content of the assessment and scientific critique are formulated independently by the reviewer.
2. Rapid search for publicly available information and automated checking of references — provided that the reviewer conducts a mandatory manual check of the results and there is no risk of violating confidentiality.
3. Using specialized secure AI‑based systems to check the structure of the manuscript and detect plagiarism — if their use is agreed upon with the Editorial Board and the systems do not train on uploaded data.

Impermissible Uses of AI

1. Uploading the manuscript, any of its parts, or the review text to any AI tools that do not ensure full confidentiality. This violates the authors’ intellectual property rights.
2. Using generative AI to formulate the main scientific assessment, conclusions, or recommendations, since the peer‑review process requires critical thinking that is not available to AI.
3. Using AI tools that save, index uploaded materials, or use them to train models.

Reviewer Responsibility

Final judgments and recommendations must be made by a human reviewer. The reviewer bears full responsibility for the completeness, accuracy, and ethical integrity of the review. Violation of this policy is considered a serious breach of confidentiality and may result in disciplinary measures, including the revocation of reviewing privileges.

POLICY FOR EDITORS

Permissible Uses of AI

1. Checking the structure of the manuscript, completeness of formatting, and plagiarism using specialized secure AI‑based systems that do not use uploaded materials for model training.
2. Searching for potential reviewers in publication databases — provided that the manuscript data is anonymized.
3. Performing routine administrative tasks that are not related to assessing the scientific content.

Impermissible Uses of AI

1. Using AI systems to make final editorial decisions on the acceptance, revision, or rejection of a manuscript.
2. Using AI systems to formulate the editorial policy of the Journal.
3. Uploading manuscripts or authors’ personal data to public AI services.
4. Delegating AI the functions of ethical review and resolution of disputed situations.

Editor Responsibility

Editors must ensure the protection of authors’ personal data and prevent unauthorized distribution of materials. Editors bear full responsibility for the quality of the editorial process, making final decisions, and adhering to ethical norms in editorial work.