AI Policy For Editors
The BTTN Journal upholds the highest standards of integrity, confidentiality, and ethical conduct in all editorial processes. Editors play a crucial role in maintaining the quality, fairness, and credibility of the journal. Therefore, the use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies by editors must comply with the following principles and restrictions.
Confidentiality
All submitted manuscripts must be treated as strictly confidential. Editors must not upload or share any manuscript, or any part of it, with generative AI tools or external platforms, as doing so could violate author confidentiality, proprietary rights, or data privacy regulations.
This confidentiality requirement extends to all editorial communications, including decision letters, reviewer invitations, reviewer comments, and internal correspondence, as these may contain sensitive or identifying information.
Editors should also avoid using AI tools to draft, edit, or refine such communications even for grammar or readability to prevent unintended exposure of confidential data.
Use of AI in Editorial Decision-Making
Editorial evaluation requires human judgment, subject expertise, and critical reasoning. Generative AI or AI-assisted technologies must not be used to evaluate, interpret, or make decisions regarding the scientific content, quality, or merit of submitted manuscripts.
Editors are fully responsible and accountable for all aspects of the editorial process including reviewer selection, manuscript evaluation, and final decisions regarding acceptance, revision, or rejection. Relying on AI for decision-making or content assessment may lead to biased, incomplete, or inaccurate outcomes and is therefore strictly prohibited.
AI Disclosure and Oversight
The BTTN Journal permits authors to use AI or AI-assisted tools in manuscript preparation only with proper disclosure. Editors can verify such declarations in the AI Disclosure section at the end of each paper, prior to the references.
If an editor identifies or suspects any misuse or non-disclosure of AI tools by authors or reviewers, the issue must be immediately reported to the Editor-in-Chief or the Publisher for appropriate investigation and action in accordance with the journal’s ethical policies.
AI in Editorial Workflows
The BTTN Journal may utilize AI-assisted technologies internally to support specific editorial functions, such as plagiarism detection, metadata verification, or reviewer recommendations. These tools operate under strict data protection, privacy, and confidentiality standards, ensuring full compliance with institutional and international data policies.
Such systems serve only as supportive aids to improve editorial efficiency and do not replace the independent judgment or responsibility of the editors.
Responsibility and Accountability
Editors are personally responsible for maintaining confidentiality, fairness, and ethical integrity throughout the editorial process. Any misuse of AI that compromises the confidentiality, objectivity, or ethical standards of the review and decision process may result in disciplinary measures, including removal from editorial responsibilities.
The BTTN Journal supports the responsible and transparent use of AI technologies that enhance editorial workflows, provided that they fully respect the principles of human oversight, integrity, and confidentiality in scholarly publishing.
The BTTN Journal is an International, Open Access, and Peer-Reviewed Research Journal published by Balochistan Think Tank Network and licensed under CC BY 4.0.