Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools

The Uzbek Journal "Problems of Mechanics" recognizes that artificial intelligence, generative AI, large language models, machine-learning systems, and other AI-assisted tools may support research, manuscript preparation, peer review administration, and publishing activities when used responsibly, transparently, and under appropriate human supervision.

The use of AI must not compromise originality, accuracy, confidentiality, privacy, copyright, intellectual property, research integrity, editorial independence, or transparency. Human authors, reviewers, editors, and authorized journal staff remain fully responsible for all work, assessments, decisions, and published content produced with the assistance of AI tools.

AI Authorship

Artificial intelligence tools, large language models, chatbots, and other non-human systems cannot be listed as authors or co-authors.

AI tools cannot:

  • accept responsibility or accountability for a manuscript;
  • approve the submitted or final version;
  • disclose competing interests;
  • transfer or license copyright;
  • enter into publication agreements;
  • respond to questions concerning the accuracy or integrity of the work;
  • cooperate with investigations, corrections, or retractions.

Only individuals who meet the journal’s authorship criteria may be identified as authors.

Use of AI by Authors

Authors may use AI-assisted tools for legitimate purposes such as:

  • language, grammar, and style improvement;
  • assistance with computer coding or data processing;
  • preparation of preliminary drafts or outlines;
  • data analysis or visualization;
  • organization and presentation of research materials;
  • literature-search support;
  • accessibility and translation assistance.

Authors must independently review, verify, and take responsibility for all AI-assisted content, including:

  • facts and claims;
  • calculations and equations;
  • references and citations;
  • computer code and algorithms;
  • data analyses;
  • images and visualizations;
  • interpretations and conclusions;
  • copyright and licensing compliance.

AI tools must not be used to:

  • fabricate or falsify data, results, calculations, references, quotations, participants, experiments, or evidence;
  • conceal plagiarism, text recycling, duplicate publication, or inappropriate overlap;
  • create misleading interpretations or conclusions;
  • replace the authors’ scientific judgment;
  • generate false or unverifiable citations;
  • manipulate images, graphs, tables, or research results in a misleading manner;
  • use confidential, personal, proprietary, restricted, or security-sensitive information without authorization;
  • misrepresent AI-generated content as independently produced human scholarship where disclosure is required.

Authors remain fully responsible for the originality, reliability, and integrity of the submitted manuscript.

Disclosure of AI Use

Substantive use of AI that contributes to research, analysis, coding, interpretation, preparation of figures, generation of manuscript content, or another material part of the work must be disclosed.

The disclosure should identify:

  • the name of the AI tool;
  • the version, where known;
  • the developer or provider, where relevant;
  • the purpose for which the tool was used;
  • the section, process, analysis, figure, or content affected;
  • the human verification performed by the authors.

The disclosure may be included in the Methods section, Acknowledgments, or a separate AI Use Statement.

Routine spelling, grammar, punctuation, reference formatting, or minor stylistic corrections do not normally require disclosure where the tool does not generate or materially alter scientific content.

A suggested disclosure statement is:

During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [name and version of the AI tool] for [purpose]. The authors reviewed and verified all AI-assisted content and accept full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the final manuscript.

Where no reportable AI tool was used, authors may state:

The authors declare that no generative artificial intelligence or AI-assisted tool was used to generate substantive scientific content in this manuscript.

AI-Generated Images, Figures, and Visual Materials

AI-generated or AI-modified images must not be presented as genuine experimental evidence, observational data, measurement results, or authentic research records.

Their use may be considered where AI generation or processing is an essential, documented, and scientifically verifiable part of the research method.

Any permitted use must be:

  • clearly described in the Methods section;
  • disclosed in the relevant figure caption;
  • verified for scientific accuracy;
  • consistent with copyright, licensing, privacy, confidentiality, and ethical requirements;
  • reproducible or sufficiently documented where relevant.

AI tools must not be used to add, remove, conceal, duplicate, reconstruct, or alter scientifically relevant features in images, graphs, figures, or visualizations in a misleading manner.

Illustrative AI-generated images that do not represent research data must be clearly identified as AI-generated.

Use of AI for Coding, Modelling, and Data Analysis

Where AI tools assist with computer code, mathematical modelling, simulation, statistical analysis, or data processing, authors must:

  • verify the accuracy and validity of the output;
  • test generated code and algorithms;
  • describe the role of the AI tool in the research method;
  • disclose relevant software, tool, and version information;
  • preserve sufficient records to allow evaluation or reproduction;
  • ensure that AI output has not introduced fabricated data, unsupported assumptions, hidden bias, or methodological errors.

AI-generated code, calculations, or models must not be accepted without appropriate human review and validation.

Use of AI by Reviewers

Reviewers must not upload submitted manuscripts, supplementary files, unpublished data, figures, tables, computer code, reviewer invitations, reviewer reports, or confidential editorial correspondence to publicly accessible or unauthorized AI systems.

AI tools must not:

  • replace the reviewer’s independent expert judgment;
  • generate the substantive scientific assessment of a manuscript;
  • make publication recommendations;
  • create fabricated references, evidence, or reviewer comments;
  • conduct undisclosed analysis of confidential manuscript content.

Reviewers remain fully responsible for the accuracy, fairness, originality, reasoning, and integrity of their reports.

Limited use of a secure and journal-approved AI tool for language correction, accessibility, or another administrative purpose may be permitted only where:

  • manuscript confidentiality is protected;
  • no unauthorized data are transmitted;
  • the tool does not replace scientific judgment;
  • the use is disclosed to the handling editor.

Use of AI by Editors

Editors must not upload submitted manuscripts, reviewer reports, confidential correspondence, unpublished data, or other protected editorial materials to publicly accessible or unauthorized AI systems.

AI tools must not be used to:

  • make acceptance or rejection decisions;
  • replace editorial or scientific judgment;
  • determine whether misconduct has occurred without human investigation;
  • select or exclude authors or reviewers on discriminatory grounds;
  • generate final editorial decisions without human assessment;
  • disclose confidential information.

Editors remain personally responsible for all editorial decisions and must independently assess any AI-assisted recommendation or output.

Use of AI and Automated Tools by the Journal and Publisher

The journal or publisher may use authorized automated or AI-assisted tools to support limited editorial, technical, and publishing activities, including:

  • similarity checking;
  • reference and DOI verification;
  • image-integrity screening;
  • language and copyediting assistance;
  • metadata preparation;
  • format and technical-compliance checking;
  • reviewer-search support;
  • detection of possible research-integrity signals;
  • production and accessibility support;
  • website and publication-system administration.

Such tools are used only as support mechanisms. Their outputs are advisory and must be reviewed by an authorized human editor, technical specialist, or member of the publishing staff.

No manuscript may be:

  • accepted;
  • rejected;
  • withdrawn;
  • corrected;
  • retracted;
  • classified as plagiarism;
  • classified as research misconduct;
  • subjected to a sanction

solely on the basis of an automated or AI-generated result.

Human review must consider context, evidence, possible bias, technical limitations, and the risk of false-positive or false-negative results.

The journal and publisher must not upload confidential manuscript content to unauthorized public AI systems. Any authorized service must provide appropriate protection for confidentiality, personal data, intellectual property, and unpublished research.

Where the journal’s use of AI materially affects published content or a significant editorial process, an appropriate disclosure will be provided.

Confidentiality, Privacy, and Data Protection

All users of AI tools must protect:

  • unpublished manuscripts;
  • reviewer identities;
  • peer-review reports;
  • personal data;
  • confidential correspondence;
  • proprietary technical information;
  • restricted datasets;
  • intellectual property;
  • commercially or legally protected materials.

Confidential or identifiable information must not be entered into an AI system unless the system has been formally approved by the journal and provides appropriate security, confidentiality, and data-protection safeguards.

Human Oversight and Responsibility

AI-assisted outputs must always remain subject to meaningful human review.

Authors, reviewers, editors, and journal staff must:

  • verify factual and technical accuracy;
  • assess possible bias or misleading output;
  • confirm references and citations;
  • review calculations and code;
  • protect confidential information;
  • document material AI use;
  • accept responsibility for the final result.

AI tools must not be treated as independent decision-makers, expert reviewers, authors, or authoritative evidence.

Non-Compliance

Failure to disclose substantive AI use, submission of fabricated AI-generated content, misuse of confidential information, manipulation of research results, or other violations of this policy may result in:

  • a request for clarification;
  • a request for correction or additional disclosure;
  • suspension of editorial consideration;
  • additional technical or ethical review;
  • rejection of the manuscript;
  • withdrawal of acceptance;
  • correction of the published article;
  • publication of an Expression of Concern;
  • retraction;
  • restriction of participation in peer review or editorial activities;
  • notification of an institution, funding body, ethics committee, or other competent authority;
  • investigation under the journal’s Allegations of Misconduct Policy.

The journal will distinguish between an honest error, inadequate disclosure, negligent conduct, and deliberate misconduct. Any action will be proportionate and based on available evidence and procedural fairness.

Complaints and Appeals

Authors or other affected persons may submit a reasoned complaint or appeal where they believe that:

  • AI use was assessed incorrectly;
  • an automated tool produced a false-positive result;
  • confidentiality was compromised;
  • the journal did not follow this policy;
  • an editorial action was based on insufficient human review.

Complaints and appeals will be handled under the journal’s Complaints and Appeals Policy.

Policy Administration

This policy is effective from 1 August 2026 and will be reviewed periodically in response to developments in artificial intelligence, publication ethics, data protection, research integrity, and applicable legal requirements.

Questions, disclosures, complaints, or concerns regarding the use of AI tools should be submitted to:

Email: instmechofficial@gmail.com

This policy is informed by relevant COPE guidance concerning AI authorship, accountability, transparency, confidentiality, peer review, research integrity, and responsible editorial practice.

ISSN 2010-7250 (Print)