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West Point Press Policy on the Acceptable Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

West Point Press recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools can support scholarly research and writing. However, authors remain fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, integrity, and authenticity of all submitted work. AI may be used as a research and writing aid, but not as a substitute for the author’s own intellectual contribution.

Acceptable Use

Authors may use AI tools for limited support functions, including:

  • Language translation, grammar, spelling, and style improvement.
  • Research assistance and idea exploration.
  • Generation, debugging, or refinement of computer code used for data management, statistical analysis, visualization, or computational research methods, provided that authors independently verify the accuracy, appropriateness, and outputs of such code.
  • Other ancillary tasks that do not replace the author’s original analysis, argumentation, interpretation, or written expression.

Any use of AI must be disclosed at the time of submission, including the tool used, its purpose, and the extent of its use. AI use will be disclosed to reviewers and acknowledged in the final publication, as appropriate.

 

Unacceptable Use

Authors will not:

  • Use AI to generate original scholarly content, analysis, argumentation, interpretations, conclusions, or substantive written text presented as their own work.
  • Use AI to manipulate, fabricate, or alter research data, sources, citations, images, or findings.
  • Rely on AI-generated statistical, computational, or analytical code without independently validating the methodology, assumptions, calculations, and results.
  • Present AI-generated content without disclosure.
  • Submit work in which AI has substantially replaced the author’s intellectual contribution.

Such practices may constitute plagiarism and grounds for rejection or disqualification.

 

 Reviewers will not:

  • Rely on AI as the sole source of feedback during the peer-review process.

 

 Author Responsibilities

Authors are solely responsible for:

  • The accuracy and authenticity of all content in their submission.
  • Verifying all facts, sources, references, citations, translations, and AI-assisted outputs.
  • Validating the correctness of any AI-assisted code, statistical analyses, computational methods, data visualizations, and resulting findings.
  • Ensuring proper attribution of all ideas, data, words, and materials derived from others.
  • Any factual errors or copyright infringements contained in the manuscript.

The review process may reject or disqualify submissions when sources cannot be verified or when credible evidence indicates that AI has materially generated or enhanced the scholarly content of the work.

 

West Point Press Commitment

West Point Press will not use AI to perform the primary functions of the publishing process, including peer review, copyediting, layout, production, or editorial decision-making. Human judgment, accountability, and scholarly rigor remain essential to all Press publications.

Principle: AI may serve as a companion to scholarship, but it may not replace the author’s original intellectual work or responsibility for the final publication.