MUSPAJ Policy on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use

MUSPAJ Policy on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI Policy

The (MUSPAJ) recognizes that Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies are increasingly used within academic research, writing, creative practice, publishing, and editorial workflows. While such technologies may support scholarly communication and research efficiency, MUSPAJ affirms that academic integrity, artistic authenticity, transparency, and human responsibility remain fundamental principles of scholarly and creative publication.

This policy provides guidance for authors, reviewers, and editors regarding the ethical and responsible use of AI technologies in research and publication processes.

  1. Definitions of AI Use

MUSPAJ distinguishes between three forms of AI use:

1.1 Assistive AI Use

Assistive AI refers to AI tools used to support technical or administrative tasks without generating substantial scholarly or creative content.

Examples include:

  • grammar correction,
  • spelling checks,
  • language polishing,
  • transcription,
  • formatting support,
  • reference management,
  • translation assistance,
  • coding assistance.

Routine assistive AI use generally does not require formal disclosure.

1.2 Generative AI Use

Generative AI refers to AI systems capable of producing original or synthetic content, including:

  • text,
  • images,
  • audio,
  • video,
  • artistic outputs,
  • analytical summaries,
  • or synthetic data.

Examples include ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, Midjourney, DALL·E, Runway, and similar systems.

Generative AI use that contributes substantively to manuscript preparation, analysis, interpretation, or creative production must be transparently disclosed.

1.3 Prohibited AI Use

Certain uses of AI technologies are incompatible with publication ethics and are strictly prohibited.

These include:

  • fabrication of data, citations, references, interviews, fieldwork, or findings,
  • generation of fake artistic documentation or research evidence,
  • misleading manipulation of research images, audiovisual documentation, or artistic materials,
  • submission of AI-generated peer review reports,
  • uploading confidential manuscripts into public AI systems,
  • using AI to impersonate participants, reviewers, artists, or researchers,
  • presenting AI-generated creative works as authentic artistic documentation without disclosure.
  1. Authorship and Responsibility

AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors because they cannot assume legal, ethical, or scholarly responsibility for published work.

Human authors remain fully accountable for:

  • the originality and integrity of the submission,
  • accuracy of all claims and references,
  • ethical conduct of the research,
  • appropriate citation and attribution,
  • and all published content, including AI-assisted material.

The use of AI does not reduce author responsibility.

  1. Disclosure Requirements

Authors must disclose substantial generative AI use in the preparation of manuscripts, creative works, or research outputs.

Disclosure should include:

  • the name of the AI tool,
  • version (if applicable),
  • the purpose of use,
  • and the extent of AI contribution.

Disclosure statements should appear in:

  • the Acknowledgements section,
  • or a separate “AI Use Disclosure” section before References.

Example Disclosure Statement

The authors used ChatGPT (OpenAI, GPT-5) to assist with language refinement and organizational support during manuscript preparation. All interpretations, arguments, and final writing were reviewed and approved by the authors, who remain fully responsible for the content of the work.

  1. AI Use in Artistic and Practice-Based Research

As a journal focusing on music, performance, theatre, dance, and interdisciplinary arts, MUSPAJ recognizes that AI technologies may themselves become part of artistic inquiry and creative practice.

Where AI-generated materials form part of the artistic or research methodology, authors must clearly explain:

  • the role of AI within the creative process,
  • how AI-generated outputs were produced,
  • the relationship between AI and human artistic authorship,
  • and the conceptual significance of AI within the research inquiry.

AI-generated images, sound, choreography, scripts, audiovisual materials, or creative outputs must not be presented as authentic documentation of rehearsals, performances, fieldwork, or artistic processes unless explicitly identified as AI-generated or AI-assisted.

  1. Reviewers and Editors

Reviewers and editors must maintain strict confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and unpublished materials. Confidential manuscripts, reviewer reports, or editorial documents must not be uploaded into public AI systems or generative AI platforms, as doing so may compromise confidentiality, intellectual property, and publication ethics. AI tools may only be used in limited editorial support tasks that do not compromise confidential information. Editorial decisions remain the responsibility of human editors.

 

  1. Research Integrity and Editorial Action

Undisclosed or inappropriate AI use may constitute a breach of publication ethics.

MUSPAJ reserves the right to:

  • request clarification or revision,
  • reject submissions,
  • retract published articles,
  • or take further editorial action in accordance with the journal’s publication ethics policies.

The journal may investigate suspected unethical AI use where concerns arise regarding authorship, originality, authenticity, or research integrity.

  1. Ongoing Policy Development

As AI technologies continue to evolve rapidly, MUSPAJ will periodically review and revise this policy to remain aligned with international publication ethics standards and developments in scholarly and artistic research practices.

MUSPAJ Editorial Board

21 May 2026