SciSpace Academy
Tutorial

How to Disclose AI Use in Academic Research at Every Stage

Prof. Roger WatsonEnglishResponsible AI

TL;DR

1-min read

AI now supports almost every research task, from finding literature and synthesising evidence to writing, coding, data analysis and manuscript preparation. This tutorial reviews current good practice for disclosing AI assistance across the full research lifecycle, drawing on guidance from major publishers. It is aimed at graduate students, postdocs, faculty and research professionals who use AI tools and need to report that use correctly.

Key takeaways

  • Some situations require an AI disclosure, such as when AI contributed to content, analysis or substantive writing, while basic tools like spell checkers typically do not.
  • A clear disclosure statement names the tool, describes what it was used for, states the research stage and confirms that the authors reviewed the output and take responsibility.
  • Placement depends on the journal, often the methods or acknowledgements section, so reading the author guidelines is essential.
  • Good practice applies across literature reviews, writing, editing, coding and analysis, and documenting use as you go makes reporting easier.
  • AI tools cannot be listed as co-authors, because they cannot take responsibility for the work or approve the final version.
  • Journal and publisher expectations are changing, and common mistakes can be avoided by adapting example statements to each stage.
Apply it

To apply this, keep a simple record of how you use SciSpace at each stage of your project, then use it to write a specific disclosure that follows your target journal's guidelines.

How to do it

  1. Identify which uses need disclosure

    List where AI supported your work and check which situations require a disclosure and which typically do not. This avoids both over- and under-reporting.

  2. Review publisher expectations

    Check your target journal's and publisher's current guidance on AI reporting. Expectations are changing, so confirm before you submit.

  3. Write a specific disclosure statement

    Draft a clear, specific statement describing how AI was used in your manuscript. This is how to disclose AI use in research credibly.

  4. Apply good practice by task

    Follow good practice for AI use in literature reviews, writing, editing, coding and analysis. Each task carries different reporting needs.

  5. Check for common disclosure mistakes

    Review your statement for common AI disclosure mistakes and fix them. This prevents avoidable queries from editors.

Watch the tutorial43 min

How to Disclose AI Use in Academic Research at Every StagePlay video: How to Disclose AI Use in Academic Research at Every Stage

Chapters

  1. Welcome and why AI transparency matters in research
  2. Why do you have to disclose AI use in research?
  3. Do journal editors mind if you use AI to improve your English?
  4. Fake AI-generated references: a real case from a journal editor
  5. Where to disclose AI in the research workflow, including research ideas
  6. Do I need to disclose AI use? Three questions to ask yourself
  7. Using ChatGPT to score a questionnaire and disclosing it to reviewers
  8. Using AI for literature search: what you need to disclose
  9. AI for literature reviews and systematic reviews: screening, risk of bias, evidence tables
  10. How can I use AI for data analysis in research?
  11. Is it OK to use ChatGPT to help write a research paper?
  12. Can you use AI to make figures and graphical abstracts?
  13. What can't be delegated to AI: interpretation, ethics and accountability
  14. Can AI be an author? Journal AI policies and peer reviewer rules
  15. How to write an AI disclosure statement: examples and Elsevier template
  16. Good vs bad AI disclosure: why 'We used AI' is not enough
  17. What journal editors now check: hallucinations, fake references, privacy, copyright
  18. The future of AI disclosure: journal checklists, reviewers and funders
  19. Using AI responsibly in research: key takeaways

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need to disclose AI use in my research paper?

In most cases, yes, if AI contributed to content, analysis, or substantive writing. Many publishers distinguish between basic tools such as spell checkers and generative AI that produces text, code or summaries. Policies vary, so read your target journal's author guidelines. When in doubt, a short, specific disclosure is safer than leaving AI use unreported.

What should an AI disclosure statement include?

A useful statement names the tool, describes what it was used for, states at which stage of the research it was used, and confirms that the authors reviewed the output and take full responsibility for the work. Placement depends on the journal, often the methods or acknowledgements section. Keep it factual and specific rather than generic.

Can an AI tool be listed as a co-author?

No. Major publishers and editorial bodies agree that AI tools cannot meet authorship criteria because they cannot take responsibility for the work, approve the final version, or be accountable for its integrity. Instead, describe the tool's contribution in a disclosure statement, while the human authors remain responsible for accuracy, originality and proper citation of all content.

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