Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly used to support editing, writing, image creation, coding, research, and other aspects of educational content development. Transparency regarding the use of these tools is an important part of scholarly and editorial integrity.

Editorial Use of AI

Editors may use approved AI tools to support tasks such as:

• improving grammar and readability
• generating or refining alt text and image descriptions
• checking consistency, repetition, and formatting
• assisting with APA style and references
• drafting editorial queries or summaries
• brainstorming or restructuring some content (use within our institutions’ AI co-pilot umbrella and consider proprietary restrictions and limitations, of course!)

Editors remain fully responsible for reviewing, verifying, and approving all AI-assisted work. AI-generated content should never be accepted without careful human review.

Attribution and Disclosure

When generative AI has contributed to the development of course materials or other published content beyond routine editorial assistance, its use should be transparently acknowledged.

Editors should follow the current guidance provided by the University of British Columbia Library for citing and acknowledging generative AI tools.

UBC Generative AI Citation Guide

How to Cite – Generative AI (University of British Columbia Library)

Because guidance continues to evolve, editors should refer to the UBC resource rather than relying on static examples in this guide.

Examples:

Caption:

Figure 5.2: Small campfire vs. large campfire. (OpenAI, 2025)
Citation:

OpenAI. (2025). Small fire vs. big fire illustration [Digital illustration]. ChatGPT. https://chat.openai.com/

Verification

Generative AI may produce inaccurate, incomplete, or fabricated information, including incorrect citations and references. Editors must:

• verify all factual information against reliable sources
• confirm that all references and DOIs are accurate
• ensure quotations accurately reflect the original source
• review all AI-generated wording for accuracy, clarity, accessibility, and bias
• never treat AI-generated content as an authoritative source

AI should be considered an editorial support tool rather than a source of evidence.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Editors must not enter confidential, proprietary, unpublished, or personal information into public generative AI tools unless institutional policies explicitly permit it.

This includes:

• student information
• unpublished course materials
• confidential manuscripts
• copyrighted content that is not authorized for external use

Editors should follow institutional policies regarding privacy, copyright, and approved AI tools.