Artificial Intelligence Policy

1. General Policy

The Borneo Journal of Language and Education (BENJOLE) recognizes the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI), including generative AI and AI-assisted technologies, in academic research, language education, linguistics, literature, and scholarly publishing.

BENJOLE permits the responsible and transparent use of AI tools when appropriate to the research purpose or manuscript preparation process. However, the use of AI must not compromise academic integrity, originality, research accuracy, confidentiality, intellectual property rights, or accountability.

AI tools may support human work but cannot replace the intellectual contribution, critical judgment, and ethical responsibilities of authors, editors, or reviewers.

This policy applies to authors submitting manuscripts to BENJOLE, as well as editors and reviewers participating in the journal's editorial and peer-review processes.

2. General Principles

The use of AI in scholarly publishing must comply with the following principles:

  1. Human accountability: Human authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and ethical acceptability of their manuscripts.
  2. Transparency: Substantive use of AI must be disclosed in accordance with this policy.
  3. Accuracy and verification: AI-generated or AI-assisted content must be critically evaluated and verified by the responsible authors.
  4. Originality and attribution: AI must not be used to conceal plagiarism, misrepresent the origin of ideas, fabricate references, or reproduce protected material without appropriate acknowledgement or permission.
  5. Confidentiality: Unpublished manuscripts, confidential peer-review reports, personal data, and other restricted materials must be protected from unauthorized disclosure to AI systems.
  6. Research integrity: AI must not be used to fabricate or falsify data, manipulate findings, or misrepresent research procedures.
  7. Editorial independence: AI must not replace the independent scholarly judgment of editors or reviewers.

3. Use of AI by Authors

Authors may use AI tools for appropriate purposes, including language improvement, grammar checking, translation, brainstorming, coding assistance, literature organization, data analysis, or other research activities, provided that such use is consistent with the research design, ethical requirements, and this policy.

Authors must ensure that AI use does not replace the meaningful intellectual contribution required for authorship or compromise the validity of the research.

3.1. Language Editing and Translation

AI tools may be used to improve grammar, spelling, readability, academic style, and translation. Authors remain responsible for ensuring that the revised text accurately expresses their intended meaning, preserves the integrity of cited material, and does not introduce unsupported claims or distort the research findings. Routine spelling, grammar, and language corrections generally do not require disclosure unless they substantially influence the manuscript's content or preparation.

3.2. Generation or Substantial Revision of Manuscript Content

When AI is used to generate, substantially rewrite, or develop manuscript content, authors must disclose the use of the tool. Authors must critically review all AI-assisted content, verify factual claims and references, ensure appropriate attribution, and confirm that the manuscript reflects their own scholarly contribution. AI-generated text must not be presented as independently verified scholarship without appropriate human assessment.

3.3. Use of AI in Research Methods and Analysis

When AI is used as part of the research methodology, data processing, coding, statistical analysis, linguistic analysis, literature screening, interpretation, or generation of research outputs, authors must describe its use in the appropriate section of the manuscript.

The description should identify, where applicable:

  • The AI tool, model, or system used.
  • The purpose of its use in the research.
  • The procedures or tasks performed by the tool.
  • The relevant model version and date of use, where available.
  • The prompts, parameters, or analytical procedures necessary to understand or reproduce the work, where appropriate.
  • The methods used to verify AI-generated outputs and minimize errors or bias.

Authors must ensure that AI-assisted analyses are methodologically appropriate and that the reported findings are supported by evidence.

3.4. AI-Generated Images, Figures, Tables, and Other Materials

Authors must disclose substantive AI use in generating or modifying images, figures, illustrations, tables, or other research materials where relevant to the interpretation or presentation of the research. AI must not be used to fabricate, misleadingly alter, or misrepresent research evidence. Authors must comply with applicable copyright, licensing, attribution, and research ethics requirements. AI-generated visual materials must not be presented as authentic photographs, experimental observations, or other original evidence when they are not.

3.5. Accuracy of AI-Generated Information

Authors are responsible for verifying all AI-assisted content before submission.

In particular, authors must verify:

  • The accuracy and relevance of factual statements.
  • The existence and accuracy of cited references.
  • The consistency of quotations with their original sources.
  • The validity of data, calculations, and analytical outputs.
  • The appropriateness of interpretations and conclusions.
  • The absence of unattributed material or misleading representations.

AI tools must not be used to fabricate references, invent research findings, conceal contradictory evidence, or present unsupported conclusions as established facts.

4. Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose substantive use of AI tools in the preparation of a manuscript or the conduct and reporting of research.

The disclosure should identify the AI tool used, its purpose, and the nature of its contribution. Where relevant, the tool version and other information necessary to understand the use of AI should also be provided.

The disclosure may be included in the Acknowledgements, Methods, or another appropriate section, depending on the nature of the use.

When AI forms part of the research methodology or analysis, disclosure must be provided in the relevant methodological section rather than relying solely on an acknowledgement.

Authors may use the following statement as a model:

Declaration of AI-Assisted Technologies

During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [name of AI tool and version, where available] for [specific purpose]. The authors reviewed and verified the AI-assisted content and remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and final content of the manuscript.

Authors must adapt the statement to accurately reflect their actual use of AI. The declaration must not imply that AI was used when it was not, or conceal substantive AI assistance.

5. AI Tools and Authorship

AI tools, including generative AI systems, cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to BENJOLE.

Authorship requires intellectual contribution, final approval, and accountability for the scholarly work. AI systems cannot independently assume these responsibilities.

6. Use of AI by Editors

Editors may use appropriate AI-assisted tools for limited administrative or technical purposes, provided that such use complies with confidentiality, data protection, and editorial integrity requirements.

Editors must not:

  • Upload unpublished manuscripts, confidential reviewer reports, or restricted editorial correspondence to public or unauthorized AI systems.
  • Delegate decisions concerning acceptance, revision, or rejection to AI systems.
  • Treat AI-generated assessments as a substitute for independent editorial judgment.
  • Rely on unverified AI-generated information when evaluating a manuscript or making an editorial decision.
  • Use AI in a manner that compromises confidentiality, fairness, or the independence of the editorial process.

Any permitted use of AI in substantive editorial assessment must be appropriately safeguarded and disclosed to the relevant parties where necessary.

The Editor-in-Chief and editorial team remain responsible for all editorial decisions and actions.

7. Use of AI by Reviewers

Reviewers must maintain confidentiality, independence, and scholarly integrity throughout the peer-review process.

Reviewers must not upload submitted manuscripts, unpublished research, confidential reviewer reports, or editorial correspondence to public or unauthorized AI systems.

Reviewers must not delegate the substantive evaluation of a manuscript or the generation of a review report to AI in place of their own expert assessment.

Where an AI-assisted tool is permitted for a limited technical purpose, reviewers remain responsible for the accuracy, confidentiality, and appropriateness of its use. Any substantive use of AI in preparing a review must be disclosed to the editor where applicable.

Reviewers must ensure that their recommendations are based on their own critical assessment, relevant expertise, and the journal's review criteria.

8. Confidentiality, Privacy, and Data Protection

AI tools must be used in ways that respect confidentiality, privacy, informed consent, intellectual property rights, and applicable data protection requirements.

Authors must not enter confidential research data, identifiable participant information, unpublished third-party materials, or other restricted information into AI systems without appropriate authorization and safeguards.

Editors and reviewers must protect all confidential manuscript and peer-review materials from unauthorized access or disclosure.

The journal may request clarification about AI use when necessary to assess compliance with this policy or to address concerns regarding the integrity of a submission.

9. Prohibited Uses of AI

The following practices are unacceptable:

  • Listing AI tools as authors or co-authors.
  • Fabricating or falsifying data, research findings, observations, or references.
  • Generating misleading research evidence or manipulating images and figures in ways that misrepresent the underlying work.
  • Presenting AI-generated content as verified scholarship without appropriate human review.
  • Using AI to facilitate plagiarism, conceal the origin of material, or evade the journal's plagiarism screening procedures.
  • Using AI to misrepresent research methods, analytical procedures, or the provenance of data.
  • Uploading confidential manuscripts or peer-review materials to unauthorized AI systems.
  • Delegating editorial decisions or substantive peer-review judgments to AI systems.
  • Failing to disclose substantive AI use when disclosure is required by this policy.

Suspected violations will be assessed in accordance with BENJOLE's publication ethics procedures.

10. Screening and Assessment of AI Use

BENJOLE may examine concerns regarding the use of AI when reviewing a manuscript's originality, accuracy, research integrity, or compliance with this policy.

The editorial team may request clarification, supporting documentation, research records, or an explanation of the role played by AI tools.

AI-detection software or other technical tools, where available, may be used as supplementary resources. Such tools must not be treated as conclusive evidence of misconduct on their own.

Editorial assessments should consider the available evidence, the context of the manuscript, the author's explanation, and the relevant ethical requirements.

11. Handling Violations

If BENJOLE identifies suspected inappropriate, misleading, or undisclosed AI use, the editorial team will assess the circumstances and available evidence before determining the appropriate response.

Possible actions include:

  • Requesting clarification or additional documentation.
  • Requiring corrections or revisions to the manuscript.
  • Requesting appropriate disclosure of AI use.
  • Rejecting a manuscript when serious concerns remain unresolved or a violation is established.
  • Suspending editorial processing while a concern is examined.
  • Publishing a correction or expression of concern for a published article, where justified.
  • Retrating a published article in serious cases where the integrity or reliability of the scholarly record is compromised.
  • Referring the matter to the relevant institution or organization when appropriate.

Actions will be proportionate to the nature and seriousness of the violation and consistent with BENJOLE's Allegations of Research Misconduct policy, Plagiarism Policy, and Correction and Retraction Policy.

Authors will be given an appropriate opportunity to respond to concerns before an adverse conclusion is reached, where practicable and consistent with the circumstances.

12. Responsibilities and Accountability

Authors, editors, and reviewers remain accountable for their respective roles in scholarly publishing.

Authors are responsible for the accuracy, originality, ethical compliance, and integrity of submitted work, including all AI-assisted content.

Editors are responsible for independent editorial decisions and for ensuring that AI use does not compromise fairness, confidentiality, or publication standards.

Reviewers are responsible for independent, evidence-based assessments and for protecting confidential manuscript information.

BENJOLE's editorial team is responsible for applying this policy consistently and taking appropriate action when concerns arise.

13. Related Policies

This policy should be read together with the following BENJOLE policies:

  • Publication Ethics.
  • Authorship and Contribution Policy.
  • Plagiarism Policy.
  • Peer Review Process Policy.
  • Allegations of Research Misconduct.
  • Conflict of Interest Policy.
  • Correction and Retraction Policy.

14. Contact Information

Questions concerning the use of AI in manuscripts or compliance with this policy may be directed to the BENJOLE editorial office.

Email: jurnal.benjole@uinsi.ac.id

BENJOLE supports the responsible use of AI in scholarly communication while maintaining human accountability, research integrity, confidentiality, and the reliability of the scholarly record.