ASNT Policy on the Ethical Use of AI in Manuscript Submission

Effective Date: 1 January 2026

1. Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a transformative tool that can enhance research and scholarly communication. The American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) supports the responsible use of AI in manuscript preparation while ensuring adherence to ethical standards and academic integrity. This policy establishes guidelines for AI use in research submissions to ASNT journals and books.

2. AI Disclosure Requirements

Authors must disclose the use of AI tools in manuscript preparation. A checklist will be integrated into the online manuscript submission portal to allow authors to specify:

  • AI Tool Used: Name of the AI tool(s) (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, DALL·E)

  • Extent of Use: Description of AI’s role (e.g., data analysis, manuscript writing, figure creation, review)

  • Human Oversight: Description of human review and editing of AI-generated content.

  • Novelty of Research: Since large language models (LLMs) can identify patterns but do not generate entirely novel solutions, it is essential for authors to highlight the originality of their research for reviewers. Authors should provide clear indication of novel contributions (e.g., “Novel findings are presented in Sections 3.5 and 3.8”)

3. Substantive vs. Nonsubstantive AI Use

ASNT differentiates between substantive and nonsubstantive AI use:

Nonsubstantive Use (Acceptable Without Disclosure):

  • Spell-checking and grammar correction (e.g., Grammarly)

  • Language translation

  • Formatting references (e.g., Edifix)

Substantive Use (Requires Disclosure):

  • AI-assisted data analysis

  • Figure or image creation

  • Manuscript drafting and writing

4. Ethical Considerations

4.1 Transparency

  • Authors must disclose AI assistance within the manuscript.

  • AI-generated sections or content should be clearly identified.

  • Transparency fosters trust and acknowledges the collaborative effort between human researchers and AI tools.

4.2 Human Oversight

  • AI-generated content should be critically reviewed and verified for accuracy and reliability.

  • Researchers remain fully responsible for the quality, validity, and replicability of their final work.

  • AI-generated content should meet or exceed current standards for reliability and reproducibility in academic publishing.

4.3 Citation

  • AI-generated contributions must be properly cited following established citation guidelines.

  • Credit should be given to the AI tools used in research development.

5. Policy Evolution and Common-Sense Application

ASNT acknowledges that AI technology is evolving faster than policy frameworks. This policy aims to provide necessary but flexible guardrails that allow researchers to experiment responsibly while maintaining academic integrity. AI is not prohibited in ASNT publications, but authors bear full responsibility for AI-assisted content.

Policy on the Use of AI Tools in Peer Review

1. Purpose

This policy establishes guidelines for the appropriate use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the peer review process to ensure integrity, transparency, and accountability.

2. Acceptable Use of AI in Peer Review

Reviewers may use AI tools to support their evaluation of manuscripts, but only in ways that uphold the confidentiality and ethical responsibilities of the peer review process.

Manuscript reviewers may not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in their review or critique unless the AI operates in a private or closed environment where manuscript content is not stored, shared, or used for training purposes.

Acceptable uses include:

  • Summarizing complex research concepts for clarity

  • Checking grammar, spelling, and readability

  • Identifying potential conflicts of interest or plagiarism using AI-powered detection tools

3. Prohibited Use of AI in Peer Review

To maintain confidentiality and ethical standards, the following uses of AI are strictly prohibited:

  • Inputting unpublished manuscript content into AI tools that store, learn from, or share user data (using an AI that operates in a private or closed environment is acceptable)

  • Using AI-generated critiques or recommendations without personal review and validation

  • Delegating the review process entirely to AI without substantive human judgment

4. Disclosure Requirements

If AI tools are used in the review process, the reviewer must disclose:

  • AI Tool Used: Name of the AI tool(s) and if it was open or closed

  • Extent of Use: Description of how AI assisted in the review

  • Human Oversight: Confirmation that the final review reflects the reviewer’s independent judgment

This disclosure should be included in the confidential comments to the editor.

5. Reviewer Responsibility

Reviewers remain fully responsible for the accuracy, fairness, and ethical integrity of their reviews, regardless of AI assistance. Any misuse of AI tools that compromises confidentiality, originality, or fairness may result in removal from the reviewer pool.

6. Implementation and Compliance

This policy applies to all reviewers participating in the peer review process. Non-compliance may result in corrective action, including disqualification from future review opportunities.

Materials Evaluation Non-Technical Article Policy

1. Purpose

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in content creation is evolving, offering new tools for drafting and enhancing non-technical articles. This policy ensures transparency in AI-assisted content published in Materials Evaluation (ME) and on the ASNT website while maintaining editorial integrity and accountability.

2. AI Disclosure Requirements

When AI is used in the generation of non-technical articles or images, authors must disclose the following:

  • Prompt Author: Name of the individual who crafted the prompt

  • Prompt Used: Exact or summarized prompt used for AI generation

  • AI Tool Used: Name of the AI tool (e.g., ChatGPT, DALL·E, Claude)

  • References Used: Any sources that informed AI-generated content

  • Human Review: If applicable, names or roles of those who reviewed and verified the output

Example Disclosure:

“This article includes content generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence using the prompt ‘[XXXXXX]’ written by [Author’s Name] for [name of tool, e.g., OpenAI’s ChatGPT5]. The output was reviewed and verified by [Reviewer’s Name].”

3. Exemptions from Disclosure

AI use for routine editorial tasks does not require disclosure. These include:

  • Grammar and spell-checking

  • Brainstorming and idea generation

  • Summarizing or outlining content

  • Formatting or verifying references

4. Ethical Responsibility

While AI can assist in content creation, authors remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, and ethical integrity of their work. AI-generated content must align with ASNT’s editorial standards and publication ethics.

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