The use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the editing process for Elsevier

Policy for book and commissioned content editors

This policy aims to provide greater transparency and guidance to authors, editors and reviewers in relation to generative AI and AI-assisted technologies. Elsevier will monitor ongoing developments in this area closely and will adjust or refine the policy as appropriate. The following guidance is specifically for editors.

All authors’ work must be treated as confidential. Editors should not upload authors’ material/manuscript or any part thereof into a generative AI tool as this may violate Elsevier’s confidentiality and proprietary rights and, where the material/manuscript contains personally identifiable information, may breach data privacy rights.

This confidentiality requirement extends to all communication about the material/manuscript including any reports or correspondence, as they may contain confidential information about the material/manuscript, Elsevier, and/or the authors. For this reason, editors should not upload their communications or any related material into an AI tool, even if it is just for the purpose of improving language and readability.

Elsevier abides by the highest standards of integrity in the editorial process which implies responsibilities that can only be attributed to humans. Generative AI or AI-assisted technologies should not be used by editors to assist in the evaluation of authors’ material/ manuscript as the critical thinking and original assessment needed for this work is outside of the scope of this technology and there is a risk that the technology will generate incorrect, incomplete or biased conclusions about the manuscript. The editor is responsible and accountable for the editorial process.

Elsevier’s AI policy for book authors states that authors are allowed to use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process before submission, but only to improve the language and readability of their work and with the appropriate disclosure, as per our instructions in Elsevier’s Guide for Authors.

Please note that Elsevier owns identity protected AI-assisted technologies which conform to the RELX Responsible AI Principles opens in new tab/window. These in-house or licensed technologies respect confidentiality. Our programs are subject to rigorous evaluation of bias and are compliant with data privacy and data security requirements.

For information on the use of generative AI in journal articles, please see Elsevier’s generative AI policies for journals.