STM has released a new draft report, Recommendations for a Classification of AI Use in Academic Manuscript Preparation, developed by the STM Association’s Task & Finish Group on AI Labelling Terminology. This draft is now open for community consultation.
While publishers have long offered guidance on disclosing human assistance—such as language editing—recent advances in generative AI have significantly expanded the ways in which machine tools can support manuscript preparation. From writing and editing to generating images and diagrams, the use of AI in scholarly publishing is evolving rapidly.
However, publisher guidelines have not kept pace, leading to growing uncertainty across the research ecosystem:
- Authors are unsure of what AI usage must be disclosed.
- Peer reviewers lack clarity on what AI contributions are acceptable.
- Readers need transparency to distinguish between human- and AI-generated content.
This lack of consistent standards risks undermining trust in scholarly communication. To support the integrity of the academic record, the draft classification offers a clear framework to help publishers define, evaluate, and guide the transparent use of AI in manuscript preparation in the context of their individual editorial processes.
“This work builds on STM’s 2023 guidance and aims to support the development of clear, practical policies across disciplines—ensuring that the use of AI in research aligns with principles of transparency, accountability, and research integrity,” said Joris van Rossum, Program Director of STM Solutions.
Feedback is welcome through May 31, 2025, submit to joris@stm-solutions.org
