The Lebanese Medical Journal (LMJ) recognizes the growing use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in research and scholarly communication. To ensure transparency, accountability, and research integrity, the journal requires authors, reviewers, and editors to use AI technologies responsibly and in accordance with ethical publishing standards.

Use of AI by Authors

Authors may use Generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, or similar technologies) to assist with language editing, grammar correction, manuscript organization, or improving readability. However, authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and content of their submitted work.

AI tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors, as they cannot take responsibility for the work, approve the final manuscript, or meet authorship criteria.

If Generative AI tools have been used during manuscript preparation, authors should disclose their use in a separate statement within the manuscript. The disclosure should include the name of the AI tool and a brief description of how it was used.

Example Disclosure

"The authors used ChatGPT (OpenAI) to assist with language editing and manuscript preparation. All content was reviewed and verified by the authors, who take full responsibility for the final version of the manuscript."

Limitations on AI Use

Authors should not rely on AI-generated content without careful human verification. AI tools may produce inaccurate, incomplete, biased, or fabricated information, including incorrect references and citations.

Authors are responsible for:

• Verifying the accuracy of all AI-assisted content.
• Ensuring that citations and references are authentic and traceable.
• Maintaining the originality of the manuscript.
• Preventing plagiarism and copyright infringement.
• Use of AI in Research Data and Images

Any use of AI for generating, modifying, or analyzing research data, images, figures, videos, or graphical content must be clearly disclosed in the manuscript's Methods section or another appropriate section.

Authors must provide sufficient details to allow readers and reviewers to understand how AI tools were used and assess the reliability of the results.

Use of AI by Reviewers

Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and should not upload manuscript content, figures, data, or supplementary files into public or third-party AI systems that may store, learn from, or reuse the information.

Reviewers remain solely responsible for the content of their reviews and for maintaining the confidentiality of the peer-review process.

Use of AI by Editors

Editors may use AI-assisted tools for administrative and editorial support; however, editorial decisions, peer-review evaluations, ethical assessments, and publication decisions will always be made by qualified human editors.

Accountability and Transparency

Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to use AI technologies responsibly, transparently, and in accordance with accepted standards of research and publication ethics. Failure to disclose significant AI use or misuse of AI technologies may result in manuscript rejection, publication correction, retraction, or other editorial actions where appropriate.

LMJ will continue to monitor developments in AI technologies and may update this policy to align with evolving best practices and international publishing standards.