Author use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The emergence of AI has created both opportunities and challenges for authors, researchers, and publishers. Oxford University Press (OUP) has formulated these guidelines on appropriate and responsible uses of AI by book authors in our research publishing. For information about uses of AI in journal articles, please refer to the specific journal Instructions for Authors page.
Any use of AI must be consistent with the Press’s mission and the values inherent in our publishing, with all that this entails in terms of quality, integrity, and trust.
What do we mean by “AI”?
In these guidelines, we use “AI” to mean applications, tools, and programmes using Generative AI. Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence which can be used to create new content (for example text, images, videos, or music). An example is ChatGPT, a large language model (or LLM) that uses deep learning to generate human-like responses in natural language based on information requested by a user in a prompt.
PLEASE NOTE: To protect the value of your work, any work you publish with OUP (including draft manuscripts) must not be entered as a prompt or uploaded into any Generative AI application, tool, or programme. Generative AI may retain and be trained on the information you enter or upload as a prompt, which may inform the AI’s future outputs and inadvertently lead to plagiarism of your work. If you have questions or are in doubt, please contact your Acquisitions Editor.
Guidelines (subject to change)
As the landscape around AI and its technical capabilities continues to evolve, these guidelines may change in response to new developments. Please be sure to check back for the latest guidelines throughout your submission process.
Our guidelines for the use of AI in research academic publishing are informed by three principles:
1. Authorship
AI does not qualify as an author and should not be used to undertake primary authorial responsibilities, such as generating arguments and scientific insights, writing analysis, or drawing conclusions.
Authors must receive written permission from OUP to deliver AI-generated content (including the collection and analysis of data or the production of graphical elements of the text) as part of their submission and are obliged to replace AI-generated content with human generated content should OUP deem that appropriate.
If you are writing about AI and wish to include an example of AI-created work, please discuss with your Acquisitions Editor in the first instance.
2. Accountability
Authors are responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of their works, as well as any AI generated content these may include. Any use of AI must be consistent with the Press’s mission and publishing values, with all that entails in terms of quality, integrity, and trust.
Authors must themselves verify the accuracy and appropriate attribution of any content, the creation of which has been supported by using AI. Authors are fully responsible for the content of their manuscript, even those parts produced by AI, and are thus liable for any breach of publication or research ethics from their use of AI. This includes potential bias or conflict of interest in data sources and in the design of AI tools.
3. Disclosure
The use of any AI in content generation or preparation must be disclosed to your Acquisitions Editor. It must also be appropriately cited in-text and/or in notes (such as footnotes, endnotes) according to the guidelines of the relevant manual of style.
Editorial boards and advising scholars
Scholars providing guidance to OUP on the scope and contributors for collaborative and large-scale publishing projects must submit only vetted material that represents their expertise and oversight. Any information gathered in the brainstorming process by using AI tools must be considered in balance with the scholar’s knowledge of the field, and all recommendations should reflect their personal judgment. Any materials you draft for or submit to OUP should not be uploaded into any Generative AI application, tool, or programme.
